1. health and fitness
2. disease

European Heart Journal
doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehi205
ESC Guidelines
Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of Chronic
Heart Failure: full text (update 2005)
The Task Force for the diagnosis and treatment of CHF of the
European Society of Cardiology
Authors/Task Force Members: Karl Swedberg, Chairperson,*
¨teborg (Sweden) Writing Committee: John Cleland, Hull (UK), Henry Dargie,
Go
Glasgow (UK), Helmut Drexler, Hannover (Germany), Ferenc Follath, Zurich
(Switzerland), Michel Komajda, Paris (France), Luigi Tavazzi, Pavia (Italy),
Otto A. Smiseth, Oslo (Norway).
Other Contributors: Antonello Gavazzi, Bergamo (Italy), Axel Haverich, Hannover (Germany), Arno Hoes, Utrecht (The Netherlands),
Tiny Jaarsma, Gronigen (The Netherlands), Jerzy Korewicki, Warsaw (Poland),
´vy, Marseille (France), Cecilia Linde, Stockholm (Sweden),
Samuel Le
´-Luis Lopez-Sendon, Madrid (Spain), Markku S. Nieminen, Helsinki
Jose
´rard, Lie
`ge (Belgium), Willem J. Remme,
(Finland), Luc Pie
Rhoon (The Netherlands)
ESC Committee for Practice Guidelines (CPG), Silvia G. Priori (Chairperson) (Italy), Jean-Jacques Blanc (France),
Andrzej Budaj (Poland), John Camm (UK), Veronica Dean (France), Jaap Deckers (The Netherlands),
Kenneth Dickstein (Norway), John Lekakis (Greece), Keith McGregor (France), Marco Metra (Italy),
˜o Morais (Portugal), Ady Osterspey (Germany), Juan Tamargo (Spain), Jose
´ Luis Zamorano (Spain)
Joa
¨hm (Germany), Alain Cohen-Solal
Document Reviewers, Marco Metra (CPG Review Coordinator) (Italy), Michael Bo
¨m (Sweden), Kenneth Dickstein (Norway), Gerasimos S. Filippatos
(France), Martin Cowie (UK), Ulf Dahlstro
(Greece), Edoardo Gronda (Italy), Richard Hobbs (UK), John K. Kjekshus (Norway), John McMurray (UK),
´n (Sweden), Gianfranco Sinagra (Italy), Juan Tamargo (Spain), Michal Tendera (Poland),
Lars Ryde
Dirk van Veldhuisen (The Netherlands), Faiez Zannad (France)
Table of Contents
Preamble . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Diagnosis of chronic heart failure
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . .
Methodology . . . . . . . . .
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* Corresponding author. Chairperson: Karl Swedberg, Department of
¨ stra, Sahlgrenska Academy
Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital/O
at Go
¨teborg University, SE-416 85 Go
¨teborg, Sweden. Tel: þ46 31
3434078; fax: þ 46 31 258933.
E-mail address: [email protected]
Epidemiology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Descriptive terms in heart failure . . . . . . . . . .
Acute vs. chronic heart failure . . . . . . . . .
Systolic vs. diastolic heart failure . . . . . . . .
Other descriptive terms in heart failure . . . .
Definition of chronic heart failure . . . . . . . .
Aetiology of heart failure in Europe . . . . . . . .
Importance of identifying potentially reversible
exacerbating factors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Aspects of the pathophysiology of the symptoms of
heart failure relevant to diagnosis . . . . . . . . .
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& The European Society of Cardiology 2005. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: [email protected]
Page 2 of 45
Possible methods for the diagnosis of heart failure
in clinical practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Symptoms and signs in the diagnosis of
heart failure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Symptoms and the severity of heart failure . .
Electrocardiogram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The chest X-ray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Natriuretic peptides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Echocardiography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Additional non-invasive tests to be considered
Pulmonary function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Exercise testing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Invasive investigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tests of neuroendocrine evaluations other than
natriuretic peptides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Holter electrocardiography: ambulatory ECG,
and long-time ECG recording . . . . . . . . . . .
Requirements for the diagnosis of heart failure
in clinical practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Prognostication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Treatment of heart failure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Aims of treatment in heart failure . . . . . . . . .
Prevention of heart failure . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Management of chronic heart failure . . . . . . . .
Non-pharmacological management . . . . . . . . .
General advice and measures . . . . . . . . . . .
Rest, exercise, and exercise training . . . . . . .
Pharmacological therapy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors . . . .
Diuretics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Potassium-sparing diuretics . . . . . . . . . . . .
Beta-adrenoceptor antagonists . . . . . . . . . .
Aldosterone receptor antagonists . . . . . . . . .
Angiotensin II receptor blockers . . . . . . . . . .
Cardiac glycosides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Vasodilator agents in chronic heart failure . . .
Positive inotropic therapy . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Anti-thrombotic agents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Anti-arrhythmics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Oxygen therapy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Surgery and devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Revascularization procedures, mitral valve
surgery, and ventricular restoration . . . . . . .
Revascularization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Mitral valve surgery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Left ventricular restoration . . . . . . . . . . . .
Pacemakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Heart replacement therapies: heart
transplantation, ventricular assist devices,
and artificial heart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ultrafiltration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Choice and timing of pharmacological therapy . . . .
Management of heart failure because of
preserved left ventricular ejection fraction . . .
Heart failure treatment in the elderly . . . . . .
Arrhythmias . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Symptomatic systolic left ventricular dysfunction and
concomitant angina or hypertension . . . . . . . . . .
Care and follow-up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
ESC Guidelines
Preamble
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Guidelines and Expert Consensus Documents aim to
present all the relevant evidence on a particular issue
in order to help physicians to weigh the benefits
and risks of a particular diagnostic or therapeutic
procedure. They should be helpful in everyday clinical
decision-making.
A great number of Guidelines and Expert Consensus
Documents have been issued in recent years by the
European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and by different
organizations and other related societies. This profusion
can put at stake the authority and validity of guidelines,
which can only be guaranteed if they have been developed by an unquestionable decision-making process.
This is one of the reasons why the ESC and others have
issued recommendations for formulating and issuing
Guidelines and Expert Consensus Documents.
In spite of the fact that standards for issuing good
quality Guidelines and Expert Consensus Documents
are well defined, recent surveys of Guidelines and
Expert Consensus Documents published in peerreviewed journals between 1985 and 1998 have shown
that methodological standards were not complied
with in the vast majority of cases. It is therefore of
great importance that guidelines and recommendations
are presented in formats that are easily interpreted.
Subsequently,
their
implementation
programmes
must also be well conducted. Attempts have been
made to determine whether guidelines improve the
quality of clinical practice and the utilization of
health resources.
The ESC Committee for Practice Guidelines (CPG)
supervises and coordinates the preparation of new
Guidelines and Expert Consensus Documents produced
by Task Forces, expert groups, or consensus panels. The
chosen experts in these writing panels are asked to
provide disclosure statements of all relationships they
may have which might be perceived as real or potential
conflicts of interest. These disclosure forms are kept
on file at the European Heart House, headquarters of
the ESC. The Committee is also responsible for the
endorsement of these Guidelines and Expert Consensus
Documents or statements.
Classes of recommendations
Class I
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Class II
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36
Class IIb
37
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Class IIa
Class III
Evidence and/or general agreement that a
given diagnostic procedure/treatment is
beneficial, useful, and effective
Conflicting evidence and/or a divergence of
opinion about the usefulness/efficacy of
the treatment
Weight of evidence/opinion is in favour of
usefulness/efficacy
Usefulness/efficacy is less well established
by evidence/opinion
Evidence or general agreement that the
treatment is not useful/effective and in
some cases may be harmful
Use of class III is discouraged by the ESC.
ESC Guidelines
Page 3 of 45
Levels of evidence
Level of Evidence A
Level of Evidence B
Level of Evidence C
Data derived from multiple
randomized clinical trials or
meta-analyses
Data derived from a single
randomized clinical trial or
large non-randomized studies
Consensus of opinion of the
experts and/or small studies,
reprospective studies,
registries
and after their review the document was approved for
presentation. The full document as presented here is followed by an executive summary, which is published in the
European Heart Journal. An evidence-based approach to
the evaluations has been applied including a grading of
the evidence for recommendations. However, for the diagnosis, evidence is incomplete and in general based on consensus of expert opinions. Already in the 2001 version, it
was decided not to use evidence grading in this part.
The same approach has been used here.
Major conclusions or recommendations have been
highlighted by bullets.
Epidemiology
The Task Force has classified and ranked the usefulness
or efficacy of the recommended procedure and/or
treatments and the Level of Evidence as indicated in
the following tables:
Diagnosis of chronic heart failure
Introduction
Methodology
These guidelines are based on the Diagnostic and
Therapeutic Guidelines published in 1995, 1997, and
renewed in 2001,1–3 which has now been combined into
one manuscript. Where new information is available, an
update has been performed whereas other parts are
unchanged or adjusted only to a limited extent.
The aim of this report is to provide updated practical
guidelines for the diagnosis, assessment, and treatment
of heart failure for use in clinical practice, as well as
for epidemiological surveys and clinical trials. Particular
attention in this update has been allocated to diastolic
function and heart failure with preserved left ventricular
ejection fraction (PLVEF). The intention has been to
merge the previous Task Force report4 with the present
update.
The Guidelines are intended as a support for practising
physicians and other health care professionals concerned
with the management of heart failure patients and to
provide advice on how to manage these patients, including recommendations for referral. Documented and
published evidence on diagnosis, efficacy, and safety is
the main basis for these guidelines. ESC Guidelines are
relevant to 49 member-states with diverse economies
and therefore recommendations based on cost-effectiveness have been avoided in general. National health policy
as well as clinical judgement may dictate the order of
priority of implementation. It is recognized that some
interventions may not be affordable in some countries
for all appropriate patients. The recommendations in
these guidelines should therefore always be considered
in the light of national policies and local regulatory
requirements for the administration of any diagnostic
procedure, medicine, or device.
This report was drafted by a Writing Group of the Task
Force (see title page) appointed by the CPG of the ESC.
The draft was sent to the Committee (see title page)
.
Much is now known about the epidemiology of heart
failure in Europe but the presentation and aetiology
are heterogeneous and less is known about differences
among countries.
Estimates of the prevalence of symptomatic heart failure
in the general European population range from 0.4 to
2%.5 The prevalence of heart failure increases rapidly
with age,6 with a mean age of the heart failure population being 74 years and, as the proportion of the population that is elderly is increasing, this partly accounts for
the rising prevalence of heart failure.7–10 Unlike other
common cardiovascular diseases, the age-adjusted mortality attributed to heart failure also appears to be
increasing. The ESC represents countries with a population of over 900 million, suggesting that there are at
least 10 million patients with heart failure in those
countries. Many patients with heart failure have symptoms and PLVEF.11 There are also patients with myocardial systolic dysfunction without symptoms of heart
failure and who constitute approximately a similar prevalence.5,12 The prognosis of heart failure is uniformly poor
if the underlying problem cannot be rectified. Half of
patients carrying a diagnosis of heart failure will die
within 4 years, and in patients with severe heart failure
.50% will die within 1 year.7,9 Studies have confirmed
the poor long-term prognosis.13–15 Recently, a report on
heart failure in Scotland provided survival rates after
hospital discharge from 1986 to 1995 suggesting improved
prognosis over time.16 Similar and more conclusive evidence of improvements has been reported from
Sweden17 and UK.18
The accuracy of diagnosis by clinical means alone is
often inadequate,19,20 particularly in women, elderly,
and obese. To study properly the epidemiology and prognosis and to optimize the treatment of heart failure, the
uncertainty relating to the diagnosis must be minimized
or avoided completely.
Descriptive terms in heart failure
Acute vs. chronic heart failure
The term acute heart failure (AHF) is often used exclusively to mean new onset acute or decompensation of
chronic heart failure (CHF) characterized by signs of pulmonary and/or peripheral congestion, including pulmonary oedema and/or peripheral oedema with or without
Page 4 of 45
signs of peripheral hypoperfusion. Other forms of AHF
include hypertensive AHF, pulmonary oedema, cardiogenic shock, high output failure, and right heart failure.
Various other classifications for AHF as a syndrome are
utilized in coronary and intensive care units, which guide
the treatment or are used in clinical research
protocols.21
CHF, often punctuated by acute exacerbations, is the
most common form of heart failure. A definition of CHF
is given succeedingly.
The present document will concentrate on the syndrome of CHF and leave out aspects on AHF.21 Thus,
heart failure, if not stated otherwise, is referring to the
chronic state.
Systolic vs. diastolic heart failure
As ischaemic heart disease is the commonest cause of
heart failure in industrialized societies, most heart
failure is associated with evidence of left ventricular systolic dysfunction, although diastolic impairment at rest is
a common if not universal accompaniment. Diastolic
heart failure is often diagnosed when symptoms and
signs of heart failure occur in the presence of a PLVEF
(normal ejection fraction) at rest. Predominant diastolic
dysfunction is relatively uncommon in younger patients
but increases in importance in the elderly. PLVEF is
more common in women, in whom systolic hypertension
and myocardial hypertrophy with fibrosis are contributors
to cardiac dysfunction.11,22
A large proportion of patients with CHF have PLVEF as
judged by resting left ventricular ejection fraction
(LVEF).11,23 Patients with acute pulmonary oedema may
also have normal LVEF.24 However, the pathophysiology
of heart failure in patients with normal ejection fraction
is probably heterogeneous. In most cases, heart failure
may be caused mainly by diastolic dysfunction, but
some patients have reduced systolic atrioventricular
plane displacement, indicating mild systolic dysfunction;
in some other cases excessive arterial stiffening has
been reported.25 Furthermore, most, if not all patients
with systolic dysfunction, have associated changes in
diastolic function. Therefore, in most cases, diastolic
and systolic heart failure should not be considered as
separate pathophysiological entities. In some patients,
however, it appears that the diastolic dysfunction dominates and may be a more sensitive marker of heart
disease than LVEF. The most common aetiologies are
hypertension, coronary artery disease, or both, whereas
hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a more unusual but
important aetiology.11,22
ESC Guidelines
descriptive without aetiological information and therefore of little use in determining modern treatment for
heart failure. Mild, moderate, or severe heart failure is
used as a clinical symptomatic description, where mild
is used for patients who can move around with no important limitations of dyspnoea or fatigue, severe for patients
who are markedly symptomatic and need frequent
medical attention, and moderate for the remaining
patient cohort.
Definition of CHF
Many definitions of CHF exist,26–29 but only selective
features of this complex syndrome are highlighted.
None is entirely satisfactory. A simple objective definition of CHF is currently impossible as there is no cutoff value of cardiac or ventricular dysfunction or
change in flow, pressure, dimension, or volume that can
be used reliably to identify patients with heart failure.
The diagnosis of heart failure relies on clinical judgement
based on a history, physical examination, and appropriate
investigations.
For practical and operational purposes, the Task Force
considers the essential components of heart failure to be
a syndrome in which the patients should have the following features: symptoms of heart failure, typically breathlessness or fatigue, either at rest or during exertion, or
ankle swelling and objective evidence of cardiac dysfunction at rest (Table 1 ). A clinical response to treatment
directed at heart failure alone is not sufficient for diagnosis, although the patient should generally demonstrate
some improvement in symptoms and/or signs in response
to those treatments in which a relatively fast symptomatic improvement could be anticipated (e.g. diuretic
administration). It should also be recognized that treatment may obscure a diagnosis of heart failure by relieving
the patient’s symptoms.
The distinctions between cardiac dysfunction, persistent heart failure, as well as heart failure that has been
rendered asymptomatic by therapy and transient heart
failure are outlined in Figure 1. It is important to note
that exercise-induced ventricular dysfunction, usually
caused by myocardial ischaemia, may cause a rise in ventricular filling pressure and a fall in cardiac output and
induce symptoms of heart failure (e.g. breathlessness)
in the absence of cardiac dysfunction at rest. However,
as both the underlying pathophysiology and the treatment of this condition is generally different from that
of heart failure secondary to chronic ventricular
Table 1 Definition of heart failure
Other descriptive terms in heart failure
Right and left heart failure refer to syndromes presenting
predominantly with congestion of the systemic or pulmonary veins. The terms do not necessarily indicate
which ventricle is most severely damaged. High- and
low-output, forward and backward, overt, treated, and
congestive are the other descriptive terms still in
occasional use; the clinical utility of these terms is
I. Symptoms of heart failure (at rest or during exercise)
and
II. Objective evidence (preferably by echocardiography) of
cardiac dysfunction (systolic and/or diastolic) (at rest)
and (in cases where the diagnosis is in doubt)
and
III. Response to treatment directed towards heart failure
Criteria I and II should be fulfilled in all cases.
ESC Guidelines
Page 5 of 45
Figure 1
Relationship between cardiac dysfunction, heart failure, and heart failure rendered asymptomatic.
dysfunction, such patients should not be diagnosed as
having CHF.
Asymptomatic left ventricular systolic dysfunction
(ALVSD) is considered a precursor of symptomatic CHF
and is itself associated with a relatively high mortality
and morbidity.30 Treatments which can improve
outcome in ALVSD are available, so this condition is
included in these guidelines.
Aetiology of heart failure in Europe
.
Heart failure should never be the only diagnosis.
The aetiology of heart failure and the presence of
exacerbating factors or other diseases that may have an
important influence on management should be carefully
considered in all cases. The extent to which the cause
of heart failure should be pursued by further investigation will depend on the resources available and the
likelihood that diagnosis will influence management.
CHF may be caused by myocardial dysfunction, valve
abnormalities, pericardial disease, or it may be induced
by rhythm disturbances. Acute ischaemia, anaemia,
renal or thyroid dysfunction, and cardio-depressant
drugs may exacerbate, or more rarely, cause heart
failure. Acute pulmonary oedema and cardiogenic shock
have a similar aetiological spectrum as CHF, though pulmonary oedema may be more often associated with a
hypertensive crisis and normal left ventricular systolic
function. Standard textbooks of cardiology should be consulted for a more extensive list of the causes of heart
failure (see also Table 23 ). In Europe, myocardial dysfunction secondary to coronary artery disease, usually
as a consequence of myocardial infarction, is the most
common cause of heart failure among patients under
the age of 75 years31 and clear abnormalities in systolic
function are usually present. Concomitant hypertension
is the most important condition in this context for the
development of heart failure.32 Among elderly patients
who are often less intensively investigated, an accurate
diagnosis of the presence and the aetiology of heart
failure is more difficult and obscured by multiple other
diagnoses.33 Systolic hypertension and cardiac hypertrophy, as well as cell loss and fibrosis may be more
important causes of heart failure in the elderly and
may be more likely to manifest predominantly as
abnormalities of diastolic function.
Importance of identifying potentially reversible
exacerbating factors
In patients with pre-existing cardiac dysfunction, symptoms of CHF may be caused or exacerbated by poor
compliance to treatment, myocardial ischaemia, hypertension, tachy- or bradyarrhythmia, changes in valvular
regurgitation, pulmonary embolism, aortic dissection,
infection, renal dysfunction, side effects of drug
therapy, and excessive fluid or sodium intake. It is
important to identify any reversible factors in order to
treat heart failure optimally.
Aspects of the pathophysiology of the symptoms
of heart failure relevant to diagnosis
The origin of the symptoms of heart failure is not fully
understood. Increased pulmonary capillary pressure is
undoubtedly responsible for pulmonary oedema in part,
but studies conducted during exercise in patients with
CHF demonstrate only a weak relationship between capillary pressure and exercise performance.34,35 This
suggests that raised pulmonary capillary pressure is not
the only factor responsible for exertional breathlessness.
In this context, variation in the degree of dynamic mitral
regurgitation will influence breathlessness. Abnormalities
of alveolar-capillary gas diffusion, peripheral or respiratory skeletal muscle deconditioning,36 and non-cardiac
causes of dyspnoea, such as obesity or pulmonary
disease, should always be considered.37,38 Peripheral
oedema is poorly related to right heart pressures: capillary
permeability for fluid and small proteins may be important
Page 6 of 45
ESC Guidelines
additional factors. Venous insufficiency and drug therapy
(calcium channel blockers) should be considered.
Although impairment of cardiac function is central to
the development of heart failure, altered peripheral
blood flow, especially to the kidney and skeletal
muscle, is typical and probably of major pathophysiological importance.39 Similarly, activation of a number of
neuroendocrine systems is characteristic of heart
failure.40,41 Baroreceptor dysfunction is an important
link between vasomotor and neuroendocrine dysfunction.42 The understanding of CHF has moved from a
haemodynamic concept into accepting the importance
of neuroendocrine pathophysiological changes as important for the progression as well as the treatment of heart
failure.43 Activation of various inflammatory pathways
may also contribute to cardiac dysfunction and to the
clinical syndrome, particularly in more advanced stages.44
Possible methods for the diagnosis of heart
failure in clinical practice
Symptoms and signs in the diagnosis of heart failure
.
Symptoms and signs are important as they alert the
observer to the possibility that heart failure exists.
The clinical suspicion of heart failure must be confirmed by more objective tests particularly aimed at
assessing cardiac function (Figure 2 ).
Breathlessness, ankle swelling, and fatigue are the
characteristic symptoms and signs of heart failure but
may be difficult to interpret, particularly in elderly
patients, the obese, and in women. It should be interpreted carefully and different modes (e.g. effort and
nocturnal) should be assessed.38
Fatigue is also an essential symptom in heart failure.
The origins of fatigue are complex, including low
cardiac output, peripheral hypoperfusion, as well as skeletal muscle deconditioning and confounded by difficulties
Figure 2
in quantifying this symptom.45 Extracardiac causes of
oedema not related to heart failure are common.
Inter-observer agreement on the presence or absence
of symptoms of heart failure may be low,46 notably in
the days following a myocardial infarction. There is no
standard questionnaire available for the diagnosis of
heart failure. In the context of clinical or epidemiological
studies, several scoring systems are available that await
proper validation and cannot be recommended for
clinical practice at present.47
Peripheral oedema, raised venous pressure, and hepatomegaly are the characteristic signs of congestion of systemic veins.48,49 Clinical signs of heart failure should be
assessed in a careful clinical examination, including
observing, palpating, and auscultating the patient.
Unfortunately, clinical examination is often replaced by
various investigations, which reduce the experience in
bedside medicine among physicians. Peripheral oedema
and hepatomegaly have low positive predictive value
and without the determination of the jugular venous
pressure may be difficult. Peripheral oedema is usually
absent in well-treated heart failure and primarily left
ventricular systolic dysfunction, even if severe.49
Although cardiologists attain a high agreement on the
presence of an elevated jugular venous pressure under
study conditions, the reproducibility is much lower
among non-specialists.48 Moreover, many patients, even
with well-documented heart failure, do not have an
elevated jugular venous pressure, even if severe.49
Tachycardia is non-specific and may be absent even in
severe heart failure, particularly in the presence of
beta-blocker therapy.49 Other signs of heart failure
require considerable expertise for their detection.
A third heart sound is usually considered to be present
in patients with severe heart failure and left ventricular
systolic dysfunction,49 but it is not specific to heart
failure50 and may be averted by medical therapy.
Although cardiology specialists may attain a high agreement for the presence of a third heart sound under
Algorithm for the diagnosis of heart failure or left ventricular dysfunction.
ESC Guidelines
study conditions,48 the inter-observer agreement is ,50%
among non-specialists51 and probably even lower in clinical practice. Pulmonary crepitations also have low positive predictive value and inter-observer differences in
eliciting this sign are notably high.52 When cardiac
murmurs are present, their origin and role in the symptomatology should be identified. In particular, mitral regurgitation is often present and may be dynamic, which
would influence symptoms during exercise.
When multiple signs of heart failure are present,
including a displaced apex beat, pitting oedema, a
raised venous pressure, and increased P2 and when a
third heart sound is heard, then in the presence of appropriate symptoms, a clinical diagnosis of heart failure may
be made with some confidence. Although a clinical diagnosis reached in this way may be specific enough, it will
fail to identify many patients who might benefit from
treatment. The subjective component of the examination and the inability to make a permanent direct
record are further weaknesses of a diagnosis made
solely on the basis of clinical features.
Symptoms and the severity of heart failure
.
There is a poor relationship between symptoms and the
severity of cardiac dysfunction.20,47 However, symptoms may be related to prognosis particularly if persisting after therapy.53
Once a diagnosis of heart failure has been established,
symptoms may be used to classify the severity of heart
failure and should be used to monitor the effects of
therapy.54 However, as noted subsequently, symptoms
cannot guide the optimal titration of neurohormonal
blockers. The New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification is in widespread use53 (Table 2 ). The use of
examples such as walking distance or number of stairs
climbed is recommended. In other situations, the classification of symptoms into mild, moderate, or severe is
used. Patients in NYHA class I classification would have
to have objective evidence of cardiac dysfunction, have
a past history of heart failure symptoms, and be receiving
treatment for heart failure in order to fulfil the basic
definition of heart failure.
In acute myocardial infarction, the classification
described by Killip55 to describe symptoms and signs has
been used.56 The value of questionnaires for the
measurement of quality of life in the context of classification of severity is still being heavily debated.
Frequently used questionnaires are the Minnesota Living
with Heart Failure,57 the SF 36,58 and the Kansas City
Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire.59 It is important to
recognize the common dissociation between symptoms
and cardiac dysfunction. Symptoms are also similar in
patients across different levels of ejection fraction.60
The severity of symptoms is highly dependent on the
efficacy of therapy, patient expectation, and medical
interpretation. Mild symptoms should not be equated
with minor cardiac dysfunction.
Page 7 of 45
Table 2
failure
Class I
Class II
Class III
Class IV
New York Heart Association classification of heart
No limitation: ordinary physical exercise does
not cause undue fatigue, dyspnoea, or
palpitations
Slight limitation of physical activity:
comfortable at rest but ordinary activity
results in fatigue, palpitations, or dyspnoea
Marked limitation of physical activity:
comfortable at rest but less than ordinary
activity results in symptoms
Unable to carry out any physical activity
without discomfort: symptoms of heart
failure are present even at rest with
increased discomfort with any physical
activity
Electrocardiogram
.
A normal electrocardiogram (ECG) suggests that the
diagnosis of CHF should be carefully reviewed.
Electrocardiographic changes in patients with heart
failure are frequent. The negative predictive value of
normal ECG to exclude left ventricular systolic dysfunction exceeds 90%.61–63 On the other hand, the presence
of anterior Q-waves and a left bundle branch block in
patients with ischaemic heart disease are good predictors
of a decreased ejection fraction.19 ECG signs of left atrial
overload or left ventricular hypertrophy may be associated with systolic as well as isolated diastolic dysfunction, but they have a low predictive value. A QRS width
.120 ms suggests that cardiac dyssynchrony may be
present and a target for treatment. The ECG is crucial
for detecting atrial fibrillation or flutter, and sometimes
ventricular arrhythmia, all of which are considered causative or contributing factors for heart failure. The diagnostic contribution of ECG anomalies markedly increases
if clinical symptoms and signs of heart failure co-exist.
ECG recordings do not need to be repeated in the
absence of changes of clinical status.
The chest X-ray
.
The chest X-ray should be part of the initial diagnostic
work-up in heart failure.
A high predictive value of X-ray findings is only achieved
by interpretation of the X-ray in the context of clinical
findings and ECG anomalies.62 The investigation is
useful in detecting the presence of pulmonary congestion. Importantly, pulmonary disease contributing/
causing dyspnoea can be detected.64–67 Cardiomegaly is
frequently absent not only in patients with AHF but also
in cases with diastolic as well as systolic dysfunction.68
However, in patients with CHF, an increased cardiac
size, as judged by a cardiothoracic ratio .0.50, and
the presence of a pulmonary venous congestion are
useful indicators of abnormal cardiac function with
decreased ejection fraction and/or elevated left ventricular filling pressure.69 Pleural effusion is also common.
Page 8 of 45
ESC Guidelines
Interstitial and alveolar pulmonary oedema are also
reliable and important signs of severe left ventricular
dysfunction.70 However, in individual patients, the radiographic findings alone do not allow a reliable estimation
of the pulmonary capillary pressure and are therefore
not suitable as the only basis for therapeutic decisions.71
There may also be inter-observer variations in the
interpretation of chest X-ray changes.72,73 The relationship between radiological signs and haemodynamic findings may depend on the duration as well as the severity
of cardiac dysfunction.74
Table 3 Modified creatinine clearance calculation
Cockroft and Gault331
Creatinine clearance (mL/min) ¼ (140 2 age) weight (kg) 1.22/S-creatinine (mmol/L)
Values should be reduced by 15% for women
The sMDRD329
Creatinine clearance (mL/min)/1.73 m2 ¼ 186.3 (screat)21.154 (age)20.203
For women: adjust by 0.742 (reduction of 25%)
screat ¼ S-creatinine in mmol/L.
Natriuretic peptides
Haematology and biochemistry
.
.
The following laboratory investigations are recommended as part of a routine diagnostic evaluation
of patients with CHF: complete blood count (Hb, leukocytes, and platelets), S-electrolytes, S-creatinine,
S-glucose, S-hepatic enzymes, and urinanalysis.
Additional tests to consider include C-reactive protein,
thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), S-uric acid, and
S-urea. In acute exacerbations, it is important to exclude
acute myocardial infarction by myocardial biomarkers.
Anaemia may exacerbate pre-existing heart failure and is
associated with increased risk for morbidity and mortality.75 A raised haematocrit suggests that breathlessness may be caused by pulmonary disease, cyanotic
congenital heart disease, or a pulmonary arteriovenous
malformation.
Elevated serum creatinine can be caused by primary
renal disease, which may induce all the features of
heart failure by volume overload. Heart failure and
renal dysfunction often coincide because of the underlying diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension, or as
a consequence of impaired kidney perfusion by reduction
in cardiac output during the progression of heart failure.
Treatment with diuretics and/or ACE-inhibitors sometimes
together with potassium-sparing diuretics is another
reason for a high S-creatinine value. Further, age
alone can be a cause of reduced creatinine clearance.
Calculation of creatinine clearance is given in Table 3.
Concomitant administration of ACE-inhibitors and
potassium-sparing diuretics may lead to hyperkalaemia.
Untreated heart failure is rarely associated with major
electrolyte disturbances, but such disturbances are quite
common in patients on diuretics. Liver enzymes may be
poor by hepatic perfusion.
Urine analysis is useful in detecting proteinuria and
glycosuria, alerting the clinician to the possibility of
underlying renal problems or diabetes mellitus, conditions that may contribute to, or complicate, heart
failure. Hyponatraemia and renal dysfunction in the
setting of heart failure indicate a bad prognosis.
Heart failure due to thyrotoxicosis is frequently associated with rapid atrial fibrillation, which may be the
presenting feature of thyrotoxicosis in the elderly.
Hypothyroidism may also present as heart failure.
.
.
Plasma concentrations of certain natriuretic peptides
or their precursors, especially BNP and NT-proBNP, are
helpful in the diagnosis of heart failure.
A low-normal concentration in an untreated patient
makes heart failure unlikely to be the cause of
symptoms.
BNP and NT-proBNP have considerable prognostic
potential though evaluation of their role in treatment
monitoring remains to be determined.
Several clinical and epidemiological studies have demonstrated a direct relationship between increasing plasma
concentrations of natriuretic peptides and decreasing
cardiac (usually left ventricular) function.76–78 Although
this applies to atrial natriuretic peptides (ANP), ‘B’
type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and its precursor NTproBNP, for which there are now commercially available
assays, have been much more extensively characterized
in clinical practice.
Conclusive evidence of diagnostic accuracy is now
available from well-conducted clinical trials. Patients
who were referred to a rapid access heart failure clinic
from primary care BNP performed extremely well when
compared with the gold standard diagnoses made by a
panel of three cardiologists with all available clinical
information. In particular, the negative predictive accuracy was 97%, i.e. to rule out the diagnosis, whereas
this population with a high a priori likelihood of heart
failure, the positive predictive value was also high at
70%.15,79 Thus, the diagnostic potential of both BNP and
NT-proBNP in primary care is high, a setting in which
only about one-third of patients with suspected heart
failure has the presence of heart failure subsequently
confirmed.80
A large study has recently confirmed that BNP could
help differentiate cardiac from respiratory acute breathlessness in the emergency room setting in the United
States. The predictive accuracy of BNP for heart failure
was similar to or better than other clinical variables,
including the chest X-ray.81
Although the diagnostic potential of natriuretic peptides
is less clear-cut when systolic function is normal, there
is increasing evidence that their elevation can indicate
that diastolic dysfunction is present.82,83 Other common
cardiac abnormalities that may cause elevated natriuretic
peptide levels include left ventricular hypertrophy,
ESC Guidelines
valvular heart disease, acute or chronic ischaemia, hypertension,84 and pulmonary embolism.85
Although rarely, a high BNP may also signify noncardiac disease with the most common being renal
impairment.
It is important to recognize that female gender and
increasing age also elevate the plasma levels, factors
that must be taken into account when setting cut
points.86 It needs also to be stressed that, as with troponin measurements, these values are assay specific and
not interchangeable among assays.
In considering the use of BNP and NT-proBNP as diagnostic aids, it should be emphasized that a ‘normal’
value cannot completely exclude cardiac disease, but a
normal or low concentration in an untreated patient
makes heart failure unlikely as the cause of symptoms.
Nevertheless, values in the normal range are associated
with an excellent prognosis and alternative causes of
the symptoms should be sought in the first instance.
Most importantly, it must be recognized that elevated
levels are powerful predictors of death and future
major cardiac events.87 Therefore, such an observation
confers ‘high risk’ status and mandates further cardiological investigation to elucidate the cause. In the first
instance, this is likely to be an ECG, which may provide
the explanation and indicate a management plan.
In clinical practice today, the place of BNP and NTproBNP is as ‘rule out’ tests to exclude significant cardiac
disease. Particularly in primary care but also in certain
aspects of secondary care (e.g. the emergency room and
clinics), the cost-effectiveness of the test suggests that
a normal result should obviate the need for further cardiological tests such as in the first instance, echocardiography
as well as more expensive investigations.
Echocardiography
.
.
Echocardiography is the preferred method for the
documentation of cardiac dysfunction at rest.
The most important measurement of ventricular
function is the LVEF for distinguishing patients with
cardiac systolic dysfunction from patients with preserved systolic function.
The access to and use of echocardiography is encouraged
for the diagnosis of heart failure. Transthoracic Doppler
echocardiography (TDE) is rapid, safe, and widely
available. It is a non-invasive technique that allows the
assessment of chamber dimensions, wall thicknesses
and geometry, indices of regional and global, systolic and
diastolic ventricular function. Echocardiography also
provides rapid and semi-quantitative assessment of
valvular function, especially of mitral, tricuspid and
aortic stenosis and regurgitation, grading of mitral
regurgitation and the velocity of secondary tricuspid
regurgitation for the estimate of systolic pulmonary
artery pressure.
Although M-mode measurements benefit from high
temporal resolution, they are inaccurate in patients
with spherical ventricles and regional dysfunction. The
apical biplane summation of discs method—modified
Simpson’s method—is validated88 but relies on accurate
Page 9 of 45
endocardial definition. Although quantitative visual
assessment has been shown to detect low LVEF with
good sensitivity and specificity, this procedure is reliable
only with experienced observers. Other measurements
include fractional shortening, sphericity index, atrioventricular plane displacement,89 myocardial performance
index,90 and left ventricular wall motion index.91,92
The interpretation of ejection fraction with any technique shortly after an acute myocardial infarction or in
the context of a mitral regurgitation is more uncertain.
Reproducibility of ejection fraction among different
observers is poor, even when the same techniques are used.
Assessment of LV diastolic function
Assessment of diastolic function may be clinically useful
(1) in detecting abnormalities of diastolic function
in patients who present with CHF and normal LVEF, (2)
in determining prognosis in heart failure patients, (3) in
providing a non-invasive estimate of left ventricular diastolic pressure, and (4) in diagnosing constrictive
pericarditis and restrictive cardiomyopathy.
Diagnostic criteria of diastolic dysfunction
According to recommendations from the ESC Working
Group on Myocardial Function, a diagnosis of primary
diastolic heart failure requires three conditions to be
simultaneously satisfied: (1) presence of signs or symptoms of CHF, (2) presence of normal or only mildly
abnormal left ventricular systolic function (LVEF 45–50%), and (3) evidence of abnormal left ventricular
relaxation, diastolic distensibility, or diastolic stiffness.4
The third criterion may be the most difficult to satisfy
because of limitations in the diagnostic methods.
Furthermore, it is essential to exclude pulmonary
disease.38
The two hallmarks of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction are impaired relaxation and decreased diastolic
compliance. Quantification of rate of relaxation and
compliance requires invasive methods and is therefore
not practical in clinical routine. Instead, different
echocardiography indices of diastolic filling may be
used. Importantly, these indices do not directly
measure diastolic function, but serve as markers of
impaired diastolic function.93 The approaches which are
most useful are the measurement of transmitral and
pulmonary venous flow velocities by pulsed Doppler echocardiography94–96 and mitral annular velocities by tissue
Doppler imaging (TDI).97 The peak early diastolic mitral
flow velocity (E) is directly related to the transmitral
pressure gradient and left atrial pressure and is therefore
markedly load-dependent.95,96 The peak early diastolic
mitral annular velocity (E0 ) is less load-dependent and is
related to the rate of left ventricular relaxation.97–99
One should also look for cardiac structural changes
that may be consistent with diastolic dysfunction, in
particular, left atrial enlargement and left ventricular
hypertrophy.
Filling patterns and staging of diastolic dysfunction
In patients with cardiac disease, three abnormal left
ventricular filling patterns have been described.100 At
an early stage of diastolic dysfunction, there is typically
Page 10 of 45
a pattern of impaired myocardial relaxation with a
decrease in peak transmitral E-velocity, a compensatory
increase in the atrial-induced (A) velocity, and therefore
a decrease in the E/A ratio.
In patients with advanced cardiac disease there may be
a pattern of ‘restrictive filling’, with an elevated peak
E-velocity, a short E-deceleration time, and a markedly
increased E/A ratio. The elevated peak E-velocity is
due to elevated left atrial pressure that causes an
increase in the early-diastolic transmitral pressure gradient.95 The short E-deceleration time is due to reduced
left ventricular chamber compliance that leads to rapid
deceleration of transmitral flow.101,102
In patients with an intermediate pattern between
impaired relaxation and restrictive filling, the E/A ratio
and the deceleration time may be normal, a so-called
‘pseudonormalized filling pattern’. This pattern may be
distinguished from normal filling by the demonstration
of reduced peak E0 -velocity by TDI97 and by some other
diagnostic approaches.103,104
The three filling patterns ‘impaired relaxation’, ‘pseudonormalized filling’, and ‘restrictive filling’ represent
mild, moderate, and severe diastolic dysfunction, respectively.97 Thus, by using the combined assessment of transmitral blood flow velocities and mitral annular
velocities, it becomes possible to perform staging of diastolic dysfunction during a routine echocardiographic
examination (Figure 3 ). In a given patient, however, the
pattern may change over time because of changes in
intrinsic myocardial function and in response to medication that modifies loading conditions. Importantly,
the absolute value of E0 is dependent on the equipment that is used and instrument settings. Furthermore,
transmitral velocities and mitral annular velocities are
age-dependent, and any given value should be compared
with age-adjusted reference values. We still lack
ESC Guidelines
prospective outcome studies that investigate if assessment
of diastolic function by these criteria may improve
management of heart failure patients.
Estimation of LV diastolic pressure
The marked sensitivity of left ventricular filling velocities
to loading conditions represents a limitation when
Doppler velocities are used as markers of diastolic function. The load sensitivity, however, makes it possible to
estimate left ventricular diastolic pressure from the
Doppler indices of filling.105–108
One of the most useful of these approaches is to
compare the durations of antegrade transmitral flow
with reversed pulmonary venous flow during atrial
contraction.98 A pulmonary venous reverse A-wave
duration that exceeds transmitral A-wave duration by
.30 ms is a marker of elevated LV EDP.107 Because
peak early mitral annular velocity is less preloaddependent than peak early transmitral velocity, the
E/E0 ratio can be used to estimate left ventricular
filling pressure.107
Persistence of a restrictive filling pattern of left
ventricular filling after medical treatment is associated
with increased mortality.109,110
Transoesophageal echocardiography is not recommended routinely and can only be advocated in
patients who have an inadequate echo window, in complicated valvular patients, in patients with suspected
dysfunction of mechanical mitral valve prosthesis, or
when it is mandatory to identify or exclude a thrombus
in the atrial appendage.
Repeated echocardiography can be recommended in
the follow-up of patients with heart failure only when
there is an important change in the clinical status
suggesting significant improvement or deterioration in
cardiac function.
Figure 3 The three filling patterns ‘impaired relaxation’, ‘pseudonormalized filling’, and ‘restrictive filling’ represent mild, moderate, and severe
diastolic dysfunction, respectively.97
ESC Guidelines
Additional non-invasive tests to be considered
In patients in which echocardiography at rest has not provided enough information and in patients with coronary
artery disease (e.g. severe or refractory CHF and coronary artery disease) further non-invasive imaging may
include the following techniques.
Stress echocardiography
Exercise or pharmacological stress echocardiography may
be useful for detecting ischaemia as a cause of reversible
or persistent dysfunction and in determining the viability
of akinetic myocardium.111 Graded dobutamine infusion
may be used to recruit contractile reserve.112 Sustained
contractile improvement is observed when flow reserve
is appropriate, in the presence of stunning or nontransmural infarction. A biphasic response indicates
that flow reserve is blunted and suggests the presence
of myocardial hibernation. Although several noncontrolled studies have shown that revascularization
can improve regional function, clinical status, and survival in patients with a significant amount of hibernating
myocardium,113,114 a systematic assessment of myocardial viability in patients with coronary artery disease
and heart failure with systolic dysfunction cannot yet
be recommended.
Nuclear cardiology
Radionuclide angiography (RNA) provides reasonably
accurate measurements of left and, to a lesser extent,
right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) and cardiac
volumes. Left ventricular filling dynamics can also be
analysed. In none of these are the measurements reliable
in the presence of atrial fibrillation. Planar myocardial
scintigraphy or single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) can be performed at rest or during
stress using infusion of different agents, such as thallium201 or 99 m technetium sestamibi. The presence
and extent of ischaemia can be evaluated. Although
each of these imaging modalities may have certain diagnostic and prognostic value, the routine use of nuclear
cardiology cannot be recommended.
As with echocardiography, values of ejection fraction
vary with the technique used. Thus, analysis using a
single region of interest gives values significantly lower
than when two regions are used. However, reproducibility is better than with echocardiography.
Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging
.
Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) is a versatile, highly accurate, and reproducible imaging technique for the assessment of left and right ventricular
volumes, global function, regional wall motion, myocardial thickness, thickening, myocardial mass, and
cardiac valves.115,116 The method is well suited for
detection of congenital defects, masses and tumours,
and valvular and pericardial diseases.
Additional information can be obtained when CMR is used
with paramagnetic contrast agents. Bolus injection of a
Page 11 of 45
gadolinium–chelate can be used to assess myocardial
perfusion at rest or during pharmacological stress and,
combined with regional assessment of myocardial
thickening and excursion, can be used to assess myocardial ischaemia and new infarction.117 Imaging 10–20 min
after an injection of gadolinium can identify areas of
delayed hyper-enhancement which are thought to
reflect regions of acute infarction or chronic scar.118
Delayed hyper-enhancement can be used to identify
and distinguish full and partial-thickness scar and thus
differentiate regions of contractile dysfunction due to
loss of myocardium from those that are likely to reflect
stunning or hibernation.119 Marked thinning of the
myocardium is also likely to reflect extensive scar.
Magnetic resonance angiography with or without paramagnetic contrast also allows imaging of many vascular
beds of clinical interest (e.g. aorta, carotid, pulmonary,
renal, and peripheral arteries), avoiding invasive tests
and the use of potentially nephrotoxic X-ray contrast
agents.
There are a few contra-indications that should be considered absolute, such as the presence of metal in the
eye or brain (clips or foreign bodies) and cochlear
implants. Most angioplasty stents are compatible with
CMR.120 Pacemakers, defibrillators, and other implanted
medical devices have generally been considered as a contraindication to CMR but carefully selected cases have
been imaged safely and effectively.121 The major limitation of CMR for patients is claustrophobia. This may be
reduced by new technologies and managing patients’
anxiety.
Scan times until now have typically taken 30 min
without and 60 min with an acute and delayed scan with
gadolinium enhancement and pharmacological stress.
New ultra-fast technologies can reduce scan times to
2–3 min.
CMR has several advantages over other imaging techniques. CMR has become the gold standard of accuracy
and reproducibility against which other techniques for
the assessment of volumes, mass, and wall motion
should be compared.115 There is less operator dependence when compared with echocardiography and
images can be obtained when echo proves sub-optimal
because of a poor acoustic window. There is better
spatial resolution when compared with conventional
nuclear imaging. There is no radiation or nephrotoxic
contrast involved. CMR may be inferior to fast electronbeam CT techniques for the non-invasive assessment
of coronary arteries. However, CMR is expensive, a
relatively rare resource and, in terms of practical management of most patients with heart failure, it has not
been shown to be superior to echocardiography.
Pulmonary function
.
Measurements of lung function are of little value in
diagnosing CHF. However, they are useful in excluding
respiratory causes of breathlessness. Spirometry can
be useful to evaluate the extent of obstructive
airways disease, which is a common comorbidity in
patients with heart failure.
Page 12 of 45
Epidemiological studies suggest a strong association
between chronic obstructive airways disease and ischaemic heart disease, one of the principal causes of heart
failure.122 Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) and forced
expiratory volume in 1s (FEV1) are reduced by CHF but
not to the same extent as in symptomatic obstructive
airways disease.123 Alveolar-capillary gas-diffusing
capacity is related to exercise capacity, which can
provide prognostic information.124,125 Other variables
have no value in diagnosing or in grading disease
progression in patients with CHF.126
Dyspnoea and fatigue are the two main causes of exercise limitation in patients with CHF. Respiratory muscle
dysfunction may also play an important role.127
Exercise testing
.
In clinical practice, exercise testing is of limited value
for the diagnosis of heart failure. However, a normal
maximal exercise test in a patient not receiving
treatment for heart failure excludes heart failure as a
diagnosis. The main applications of exercise testing in
CHF are focused more on functional and treatment
assessment and on prognostic stratification.
Recommendations for exercise testing in heart failure
patients have been released by the Working Group on
Cardiac Rehabilitation and Exercise Physiology and the
Working Group on Heart Failure of the ESC.128
In recent years, exercise testing has been used for
prognostic purposes and exercise capacity with on-line
gas exchange measurements has proved to be an important component of the risk profile in CHF. A peak VO2
,10 mL/kg per min identifies high risk and a peak VO2
.18 mL/kg per min identifies low risk patients. Values
between these cut-off limits define a ‘grey’ zone of
medium risk patients without further possible stratification by VO2. The available prognostic data for women
are inadequate. Assessment of the ventilatory response
to exercise, measured as the slope of the relation
between minute ventilation and carbon dioxide production during exercise, has been shown to have an independent prognostic value in CHF. Its prognostic value has
been superior to that of peak VO2 in recent studies.129 To
date, there have been no reports of serious problems
related to exercise testing in CHF.128 The 6 min walk
test has been widely implemented in clinical
trials.130,131 The 6 min walk test may provide useful prognostic information when walking distance is ,300 m.
However, for use in the clinical setting, the value of
the 6 min walk test is unclear.
Invasive investigation
.
Invasive investigation is generally not required to
establish the presence of CHF but may be important
in elucidating the cause or to obtain prognostic
information.
Three diagnostic tools may be helpful in different situations: coronary angiography, haemodynamic monitoring,
and endomyocardial biopsy. None of them is indicated as
a routine procedure.
ESC Guidelines
Cardiac catheterization
Coronary angiography should be considered in patients
with acute or acutely decompensated CHF and in patients
with severe heart failure (shock or acute pulmonary
oedema) who are not responding to initial treatment.
Coronary angiography should also be considered in
patients with angina pectoris or any other evidence of
myocardial ischaemia if they are not responding to appropriate anti-ischaemic treatment. However, revascularization of hibernating or ischaemic myocardium in heart
failure has not been shown to improve outcome in
controlled trials.132 Angiography can be used to exclude
coronary artery disease when a diagnosis of idiopathic
dilated cardiomyopathy is considered. Coronary angiography is also indicated in patients with refractory heart
failure of unknown aetiology and in patients with evidence
of severe mitral regurgitation or aortic valve disease.
Monitoring of haemodynamic variables by means of a
pulmonary arterial catheter is indicated in patients who
are hospitalized for cardiogenic shock or to direct treatment of patients with CHF not responding promptly to
initial and appropriate treatment.21 Routine right heart
catheterization should not be used to tailor chronic
therapy.
Endomyocardial biopsy may be useful in selected
patients with unexplained (myocardial ischaemia
excluded) heart failure. Furthermore, biopsy may help
to differentiate between constrictive and restrictive
aetiologies.
Tests of neuroendocrine evaluations other than
natriuretic peptides
.
Tests of neuroendocrine activation are not recommended for diagnostic or prognostic purposes in
individual patients.
Although there are no doubts about the importance of
neuroendocrine mechanisms in the pathogenesis of heart
failure, the role of neuroendocrine factors in the diagnosis
is less clear. In large cohorts of patients there is good
evidence that circulating levels of noradrenaline, renin,
angiotensin II, aldosterone, vasopressin, endothelin-1,
and adrenomedullin are related to the severity and
prognosis of heart failure, but in individual patients
these predictors are inaccurate and difficult to interpret.
Diuretics, vasodilator agents, ACE-inhibitors, and
beta-blockers alter plasma concentrations of neuroendocrine substances in a complex fashion which limits diagnostic use. Plasma noradrenaline increases with age and
healthy subjects over the age of 75 years may have plasma
concentrations of noradrenaline in the heart failure
range.133
Holter electrocardiography: ambulatory ECG, and longtime ECG recording
.
Conventional Holter monitoring is of no value in the
diagnosis of CHF, though it may detect and quantify
the nature, frequency, and duration of atrial and
ventricular arrhythmias which could be causing or
exacerbating symptoms of heart failure. Long-time
ESC Guidelines
Page 13 of 45
of cardiac function by clinical criteria alone is unsatisfactory. Cardiac dysfunction should be assessed
objectively.
ECG recording (LTER) should be restricted to patients
with CHF and symptoms suggestive of an arrhythmia.
The high prevalence of ventricular ectopy and ventricular
tachycardia is well recognized, but it remains unclear
whether ventricular arrhythmias identify patients at
high risk of sudden death. In the GESICA trial, patients
with non-sustained ventricular tachycardia were found
to have significantly more severe heart failure, a higher
overall mortality and a greater incidence of sudden
death.134 However, multivariate analysis of CHF-STAT and
PROMISE studies supports that ventricular arrhythmias
are non-specific predictors of mortality. Thus, ambulatory
electrocardiographic monitoring alone seems not to
provide additional prognostic information.135 Furthermore, the finding of asymptomatic non-sustained ventricular arrhythmias on LTER does not identify specific
candidates for anti-arrhythmic or device therapy.
Heart rate variability
Heart rate variability (HRV) is a marker of autonomic
balance, a balance that is characterized by an increased
sympathetic activation and reduced vagal stimulation in
patients with heart failure. The diagnostic and prognostic
utility of this observation has been extensively investigated.136–138 A correlation between time and frequency
domain HRV measures and clinical and haemodynamic variables exists,139,140 and time domain variables can predict
survival independently from clinical and haemodynamic
data.135,136,141,142 The value of this technology in clinical
practice, however, still remains to be determined.
Requirements for the diagnosis of heart failure
in clinical practice
.
To satisfy the definition of heart failure, symptoms of
heart failure and objective evidence of cardiac dysfunction must be present (Table 1 ). The assessment
The echocardiogram is the single most effective tool in
widespread clinical use. Other conditions may mimic or
exacerbate the symptoms and signs of heart failure and
therefore need to be excluded (Table 4 ). An approach
(Figure 2 ) to the diagnosis of heart failure in symptomatic patients should be performed routinely in patients
with suspected heart failure in order to establish the
diagnosis. Additional tests (Table 5 ) should be performed
or re-evaluated in cases in which diagnostic doubt persists or clinical features suggest a reversible cause for
heart failure. Coronary artery disease is a common, and
probably underdiagnosed, cause of heart failure. If
there is reason to believe that the patient will benefit
from revascularization, then an angiogram and additional
tests as appropriate should be done.
Figure 2 represents a simplified plan for the evaluation
of a patient presenting with symptoms suggestive of
heart failure or signs giving suspicion of left ventricular
systolic dysfunction. Table 6 provides a management
outline connecting the diagnosis component of the guidelines with the treatment section.
The symptoms are similar in heart failure because of
systolic and diastolic dysfunction.60,143 Accordingly, the
same criteria should be used for the diagnosis of both
conditions with the application of the assessment of LV
myocardial function as described previously.
Prognostication
Prognosis
.
The problem of defining prognosis in heart failure is
complex for many reasons: several aetiologies, frequent
comorbidities, limited ability to explore the paracrine pathophysiological systems, varying individual
Table 4 Assessments to be performed routinely to establish the presence and likely cause of heart failure
Assessments
Diagnosis of heart failure
Necessary for
Appropriate symptoms
Appropriate signs
Cardiac dysfunction on
imaging (usually
echocardiography)
Response of symptoms
or signs to therapy
ECG
Chest X-ray
Full blood count
Biochemistry and urinalysis
Plasma concentration of
natriuretic peptides
in untreated patients
(where available)
Suggests alternative or
additional diagnosis
Supports
Opposes
þþþ
þþþ (If absent)
þ (If absent)
þþþ (If absent)
þþþ
þþþ (If absent)
þþþ
þþþ
If pulmonary congestion
or cardiomegaly
þ (If elevated)
þ ¼ of some importance; þþþ ¼ of great importance.
þþþ (If normal)
þ (If normal)
Pulmonary disease
þþþ (If normal)
Anaemia/secondary polycythaemia
Renal or hepatic disease/diabetes
Can be normal in treated patients
Page 14 of 45
ESC Guidelines
Table 5 Additional tests to be considered to support the diagnosis or to suggest alternative diagnoses
Tests
Exercise test
Pulmonary function tests
Thyroid function tests
Invasive investigation
and angiography
Cardiac output
Left atrial pressure
(pulmonary capillary
wedge pressure)
Diagnosis of heart failure
Suggests alternative or
additional diagnoses
Supports
Opposes
þ (If impaired)
þþþ (If normal)
Pulmonary disease
Thyroid disease
Coronary artery disease,
ischaemia
þþþ (If depressed at rest)
þþþ (If elevated at rest)
þþþ (If normal; especially
during exercise)
þþþ (If normal; in absence
of therapy)
þ ¼ of some importance; þþþ ¼ of great importance.
progression and outcome (sudden vs. progressive heart
failure death), and efficacy of treatments. Moreover,
several methodological limitations weaken many
prognostic studies. The variables more consistently
indicated as independent outcome predictors are
reported in Table 7
The imprecision in making the diagnosis of CHF does not
help in defining the prognosis of this syndrome. The
problem has become more complex since the recognition
of heart failure with a preserved left ventricular systolic
function.144 Considering that a correct diagnosis of
heart failure required evidence of left ventricular systolic dysfunction—in practice a low ejection fraction—
prognostic stratification needs to be re-considered.
However, prognostic analyses have been predominantly
carried out on populations enrolled in trials and
because an enrolment criterion in most trials published
so far has been a reduced LVEF, there are few data on
which to base a stratification analysis of heart failure
with preserved systolic function.145 For this reason,
what can be said thus far concerns mainly patients with
proven left ventricular systolic dysfunction.
Our ability to explore the functional alterations of many
biological systems is limited by the available access to
the body investigation which, apart from the imaging
techniques, is the blood. This precludes from the analysis
all short-living paracrine mediators which do not enter
the circulation or pass into the blood in small amounts
not representing the level of activity of the specific function that they mediate.
Although heart failure is a chronic syndrome, it does not
evolve gradually. Periods of relative stability alternate
with acute destabilizations. The prognostic stratification
should, therefore, be different in relation to the goal.
Stratification during an acute unstable phase should
have a short-term aim and should guide immediate
decisions. Stratification during a stable phase could
have a long-term aim and should predict and, hopefully
help to prevent, destabilizations and death in the
mid-term and long-term. Moreover, the activation of
Table 6 Management outline
Establish that the patient has heart failure (in accordance
with the definition presented on page 3, Diagnosis section)
Ascertain presenting features: pulmonary oedema,
exertional breathlessness, fatigue, peripheral oedema
Assess severity of symptoms
Determine aetiology of heart failure
Identify precipitating and exacerbating factors
Identify concomitant diseases relevant to heart failure and
its management
Estimate prognosis based on page 13
Assess complicating factors (e.g. renal dysfunction,
arthritis)
Counsel patient and relatives
Choose appropriate management
Monitor progress and manage accordingly
the biological systems involved in the pathophysiology
of heart failure can occur at different times during the
course of the syndrome. Consequently, the prognostic
significance of several variables can change according
to the evolutionary stage of the disease.
About half of all deaths from heart failure are
sudden, frequently, but not always, of an arrhythmic
origin.147 Sudden death may occur at any stage of the
syndrome in patients with very different conventional
risk profiles.
Introduction of new treatments can modify the
prognostic weight of the same variable over time.
For example, beta-blockers influence left ventricular
function more than exercise capacity.148,149 Thus, the
predictive power of these two factors can differ in
patients treated or not treated with beta-blockers.150
Relatively weak prognostic power of many variables is
also explained by a series of methodological flaws.
These include small, selected samples, short duration
of follow-ups, spot (non-sequential) determination of
the potential indicators, few and selected variables
included in the multivariate analyses which should (but
do not) produce ‘independent’ prognostic indicators.
CHF ¼ chronic heart failure; BP ¼ blood pressure; NYHA ¼ New York Heart Association; VE ¼ ventilation volume per min; VCO2 ¼ ventilation of CO2; BNP ¼ brain natriuretic peptide; LVEF ¼ left ventricular
ejection fraction.
Strong.
High serum troponin351
High serum uric acid352
Restrictive mitral
filling pattern162,349
Impaired right
ventricular function 160,161
Cardiothoracic ratio68,341
Ventilatory rhythm and
rate disturbances347,348
NYHA functional
Class III–IV 145,159,332
Involuntary weight loss345
Diabetes343
Race334
Persistent low BP 159
Coronary aetiology146,159
Resuscitated
sudden death 315
High heart rate346
Advanced age 159,332,333
Low heart rate
variability339,340
Complex ventricular
rhythms315,341
T-wave alternans338
Low 6 min walking
ability131,344
High serum
bilirubine 165
Anaemia350
High left ventricular
filling pressure159,332
Increased left
ventricular volumes157,158
Low cardiac index159
High serum
norepinephrine341,342
Low serum
sodium 159,165
High serum
creatinine 159,164,165
Low LVEF 155,332,337,338
Clinical
Broad QRS297,335
VO2 max
(mL/kg per min ,10–14)128,168,169
High VE/VCO2 ratio170
High serum BNP 84,336
Page 15 of 45
Demographic and historical
Table 7 Risk stratification in CHF predictors
Electrophysiologic
Functional/exertional
Blood
Central haemodynamic
ESC Guidelines
Numerous prognostic algorithms have been reported.
Usually the independent prognostic predictors considered
are clinical variables, chest X-rays, ECG, and echocardiographic parameters. Indicators that can only
be measured with sophisticated techniques and/or
invasive methods can only be recommended in specific
situations in which they have been demonstrated to be
of important benefit in making decisions concerning
the use of life-saving drugs or devices or submission to
demanding therapeutic strategies such as heart transplantation. Excellent reviews of the prognostic value
of different variables and algorithms in heart failure
have been published.151–154
Prognostic stratification must be useful for making
therapeutic decisions. For example, several studies
have clearly demonstrated that in asymptomatic patients
with left ventricular dysfunction ejection fraction is an
important prognostic marker for the development of
manifest heart failure and death.155,156 Similarly,
volume changes over time157 and the onset or worsening
of mitral regurgitation158 have important decisional
implications because they should lead to further diagnostic investigations and/or intensification of therapy. In
contrast, with the exception of brain natriuretic
peptide, degree of neurohormonal activation cannot
guide the initiation of treatment with ACE-inhibitors or
beta-blockers.
Both neurohormonal activation and left ventricular systolic dysfunction tend to fall into a uniformly reduced
range in advanced heart failure, such that their incremental value in prognostic stratification tends to
decrease as the heart failure worsens.159 In contrast,
central haemodynamic patterns and right ventricular
function take on prognostic importance in severe heart
failure.160–163 If right ventricular function deteriorates,
the clinical situation can dramatically worsen and
alternative treatments (e.g. transplantation) should be
considered. The predictive importance of haemodynamic
data is greatest when the data are collected after
therapy maximization: in this way the haemodynamic
indicator is linked to two other indicators, namely,
current
therapy
and
exhausted
response
to
therapy.159,160 This is also true for other functional parameters whose relevance lies not so much in an absolute
value, but in a capacity to change following acute interventions and chronic therapy.162
When making decisions, parameters indicating organ
damage such as elevated blood levels of creatinine,159,164
bilirubine,165 neurohormonal activation and hyponatremia159,165 acquire relevance in advanced heart failure
that they do not have in mild to moderate failure. In
the last few years, renal dysfunction has emerged as
one of the most potent risk markers in heart failure,
with a predictive value not lesser than the degree of
left ventricular dysfunction.159,164,166 Similarly, pulmonary resistance is of considerable significance (though
only in a restricted subset of patients) when it must be
decided whether to use ventricular assistance or replacement therapies.167
A markedly reduced exercise capacity in optimized
therapy is a parameter traditionally used in heart
Page 16 of 45
failure as an indicator of irreversible cardiovascular compromise and as an indication for heart transplant.128,168
However, the subjective components of both the doctor
and the patient in deciding to interrupt the exercise
may make the exercise capacity sometimes uncertain.169
Other exercise parameters seem complementarily valuable, in particular the VE/VCO2 slope, which appears
more objective and physiologically comprehensive. It
includes a measure of the effects of musculoskeletal dysfunction on the central nervous system and was proven to
be an excellent prognostic marker.170
New validated information and more integrated
approaches may offer, in the future, prognostic
algorithms that are more robust for prognostication in
heart failure. Genomics and proteomics may offer novel
disease markers and risk (or protecting) factors.
However, to date, no tests can overcome the clinical
judgement in grading risk and guiding therapy in heart
failure patients.
Treatment of heart failure
Introduction
Throughout the past 10–15 years, the therapeutic
approach to heart failure has undergone considerable
change. Current treatment not only concerns symptomatic improvement, but also increasingly focuses on
preventing the transition of asymptomatic cardiac dysfunction to symptomatic heart failure, preventing
worsening of symptoms/functional limitations of heart
failure and reducing mortality. As this is likely to be a
slow process, the effects of novel preventive therapies
may, in contrast to the often more rapid effects of pure
symptomatic treatment, only become apparent after time.
Thus, short- and long-term objectives with individualized therapies should be identified. In addition to
improvements in symptoms, well-being (quality of life)
and survival, important treatment targets include
cardiac remodelling, neuroendocrine activation, fluid
retention, and renal dysfunction. Accordingly, because
heart failure is a complex syndrome, the therapeutic
approaches may need several strategies in combination
to target different mechanisms.
However, as the therapeutic approaches to heart failure
are multiple, including general measures, pharmacological therapy, mechanical devices and surgical interventions, they will not always be applicable in each patient.
Adverse effects and interaction between different forms
of treatment may preclude their use in some. Moreover,
rapid deterioration of the clinical condition can require
modification of the therapeutic approach.
There are regional differences in the approach to heart
failure treatment in Europe. These differences are
attributable to variations in aetiology and in health
resources. Of more importance, perception and acceptance of the usefulness and need to prescribe therapies
proven to be effective in large controlled trials by the
different physicians taking care of heart failure patients
are slow. Continuous education is clearly needed.
ESC Guidelines
Aims of treatment in heart failure
The aims of heart failure management are those of the
treatment of any disease in general and consist of
several components (Table 8 ).
Prevention of heart failure
.
The development of heart failure may be delayed or
prevented by early management of conditions leading
to heart failure, in particular in high risk patients
with hypertension and/or coronary artery disease
(Class of recommendation I, level of evidence A).
The prevention of heart failure should always be a
primary objective. Many potential causes of myocardial
damage can be treated and the extent of myocardial
damage reduced. Examples include management of risk
factors for coronary heart disease, treatment of ischaemia, early triage of acute myocardial infarction, prevention of reinfarction, accurate identification, and
aggressive treatment of hypertension and some causes
of specific heart muscle disease, timely correction of
valve disorders, and congenital heart disease.
Population-based studies clearly demonstrate that
hypertension is a major risk factor for CHF and contributes a large proportion of heart failure patients,
suggesting that early and aggressive blood pressure
control is a promising strategy for preventing CHF.32,171
These epidemiologic studies also point to coronary
heart disease as a major contributor to the development
of CHF particularly in men.171,172
In hypertension, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-inhibitors), angiotensin receptor blockers or a
combination of diuretics/beta-blockers, reduces the incidence of heart failure death or hospital admissions for
heart failure.173 In ALLHAT doxazosin was associated
with a significant increase in heart failure compared
with chlortalidone.174 Furthermore, chlortalidone was
associated with a lower incidence of heart failure when
compared with lisinopril or amlodipine. The applicability
of ALLHAT to the European population remains, however,
debated as this trial enrolled a substantial proportion of
Afro-Americans.
Several randomized trials indicate that early intervention with ACE-inhibitors or angiotensin receptor antagonists reduces significantly the occurrence of heart failure
Table 8 Aims of treatment
Prevention
Prevention and/or controlling of diseases leading to cardiac
dysfunction and heart failure
Prevention of progression to heart failure once cardiac
dysfunction is established
Morbidity
Maintenance or improvement in quality of life
Avoid re-admissions
Mortality
Increased duration of life
ESC Guidelines
in high cardiovascular risk populations such as patients
with previous cardiovascular disease, diabetes, alone or
with nephropathy, and hypertension,175–179 In populations at high cardiovascular risk, statin or antiplatelet
therapy with clopidogrel have shown a reduction in the
development of heart failure.180,181
When myocardial dysfunction is already present, the
first objective is to remove the underlying cause of
ventricular dysfunction if possible (e.g. ischaemia, toxic
substances, alcohol, drugs, and thyroid disease). The
second objective of modern therapy is to modulate progression from asymptomatic left ventricular dysfunction
to heart failure.
How to modulate progression from asymptomatic left
ventricular dysfunction to heart failure is described on
page 32, Treatment of Asymptomatic Left Ventricular
Dysfunction.
Management of CHF
In CHF that is caused by systolic cardiac dysfunction the
therapeutic approach consists of general advice and
other non-pharmacological measures, pharmacological
therapy, mechanical devices, and surgery. The currently
available types of management are outlined in Table 9.
The approach to the treatment of specific patient
subgroups, i.e. the elderly or heart failure that is caused
by predominant diastolic dysfunction, is addressed in
special sections of these guidelines. The treatment of
AHF, pulmonary oedema, and cardiogenic shock has been
presented in a separate document.21
Non-pharmacological management
General advice and measures
(Class of recommendation I, level of evidence C for nonpharmacological management unless stated otherwise.)
Educating patients and family
Patients with CHF and their close relatives should receive
general advice (Table 10 ).
Weight monitoring
Patients are advised to weigh themselves on a regular
basis to monitor weight gain (preferably as part of a
regular daily routine, for instance after morning toilet)
and, in case of a sudden unexpected weight gain of
.2 kg in 3 days, to alert a health care provider or
adjust their diuretic dose accordingly (e.g. to increase
the dose if a sustained increase is noted).
Dietary measures
Sodium. Controlling the amount of salt in the diet is a
problem that is more relevant in advanced than in mild
heart failure. Salt substitutes must be used with
caution as they may contain potassium. In large quantities, in combination with an ACE-inhibitor, they may
lead to hyperkalaemia.182
Page 17 of 45
Table 9 General advice and measures, exercise, pharmacological therapy, and devices and surgery
Non-pharmacological management
General advice and measures
Exercise training
Pharmacological therapy
ACE-inhibitors
Diuretics
Beta-adrenoceptor antagonists
Aldosterone receptor antagonists
Angiotensin receptor antagonists
Cardiac glycosides
Vasodilator agents (nitrates/hydralazine)
Positive inotropic agents
Anti-coagulation
Anti-arrhythmic agents
Oxygen
Devices and surgery
Revascularization (catheter interventions and/or surgery),
Other forms of surgery (mitral valve repair)
Bi-ventricular pacing (resynchronization therapy)
ICD
Heart transplantation, ventricular assist devices, artificial
heart
Ultrafiltration, haemodialysis
Fluids. Instructions on fluid control should be given to
patients with advanced heart failure, with or without
hyponatraemia. However, the exact amount of fluid
restriction remains unclear. In practice, a fluid restriction
of 1.5–2 L/day is advised in advanced heart failure.
Alcohol. Moderate alcohol intake (one beer or 1–2
glasses a wine/day) is permitted. Alcohol consumption
must be prohibited in suspected cases of alcoholic
cardiomyopathy.
Obesity
Treatment of CHF should include weight reduction in
obese patients. The patient is overweight if his/her
body mass index (BMI) (i.e. the actual weight in kilograms
divided by height in metres squared) lies between 25 and
30, and obese if it is .30.
Abnormal weight loss
Clinical or sub-clinical malnutrition is present in 50% of
patients with severe CHF.6 The wasting of total body fat
and lean body mass that accompanies weight loss is
called cardiac cachexia.183 Cardiac cachexia is an important predictor of reduced survival.184
Consider the possibility of abnormal weight loss when:
(i) a body weight ,90% of ideal body weight or
(ii) a documented non-intentional weight loss of 5 kg
or 7.5% of the previous normal non-oedematous
weight in the previous 6 months and/or
(iii) BMI (weight/height2) , 22 kg/m2.
The aim of treatment is to achieve an increase in
non-oedematous body weight, preferably by increasing
Page 18 of 45
Table 10 List of subjects to discuss with a heart failure
patient and his family
General advice
Explain what heart failure is and why symptoms occur
Causes of heart failure
How to recognize symptoms
What to do if symptoms occur
Self-weighing
Rationale for treatments
Importance of adhering to pharmacological and
non-pharmacological prescriptions
Refrain from smoking
Prognosis
Drug counselling
Effects
Dose and time of administration
Side effects and adverse affects
Signs of intoxication
What to do in case of skipped doses
Self-management
Rest and exercise
Rest
Exercise and activities related to work
Daily physical activity
Sexual activity
Rehabilitation
Vaccinations
Travel
Dietary and social habits
Control sodium intake when necessary, e.g. some patients
with severe heart failure
Avoid excessive fluids in severe heart failure
Avoid excessive alcohol intake
muscle mass through adequate physical exercise. Small,
frequent meals are indicated when reduced food intake
results from nausea, dyspnoea, or a feeling of bloatedness.
Smoking
Smoking should always be discouraged. The use of smoking cessation aids should be actively encouraged and
may include nicotine replacement therapies.
Travelling
High altitudes, very hot or humid places should be discouraged. In general, short air flights are preferable to
long journeys by other means of transport. In patients
with severe heart failure, long air flights can cause problems (e.g. dehydration, excessive limb oedema, and
deep venous thrombosis) and patients should be cautioned. It is also worth discussing potential effects of
changes in diet during journeys and actions in cases of
acute gastro-enteritis. The use of diuretics and vasodilators may have to be adapted in case of excessive sodium
and fluid loss in hot, humid climates.
Sexual activity
It is not possible to dictate guidelines about sexual
activity counselling. Recommendations are given to reassure the not severely compromised, but frightened
patient, to reassure the partner who is often even more
frightened, and perhaps refer the couple for specialist
counselling. If appropriate, advise the use of sublingual
ESC Guidelines
nitrates before sexual activity and discourage major
emotional involvements. PDE5-inhibitors are not recommended in advanced heart failure. If used, it should
be avoided within 24–48 h of nitrate intake depending
on agent. Patients in the NYHA class II are at intermediate risk and patients in class III–IV are at high risk of
cardiac decompensation triggered by sexual activity.185
Little is know about the effects of treatments for heart
failure on sexual function.
Advice on immunizations
There is no documented evidence of the effects of immunization in patients with heart failure. Pneumococcal and
influenza immunization may reduce the incidence of
respiratory infections that may worsen heart failure.
Immunization for influenza is widely used.
Drug counseling
Self-management (when practical) of the dose of the
diuretic, based on changes in symptoms and fluid
balance, should be encouraged. Within pre-specified
and individualized limits, patients are able to adjust
their diuretics.
Desired effects and side effects of all drugs should be
thoroughly explained. Increased patient involvement
(concordance) in chronic disease should be the background for the counselling. With this in mind, the following information on drugs could be provided: improvement
may be gradual and only complete after several weeks
and with some drugs months of treatment; the need for
gradual titration with ACE-inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, and beta-blocking drugs to a desired
dosage level, which will not directly improve the
patient’s symptoms; in case dehydration occurs (diarrhoea, profuse sweating in hot climates) to reduce the
dose of diuretics; how to act if symptomatic hypotension
occurs (reduction of the diuretic and, if necessary,
temporary reduction of the dose of the ACE-inhibitor,
angiotensin receptor blocker, or beta-blocker); that
coughing might occur with the use of ACE-inhibitors as
well as an alteration in taste; to avoid non-steroidal
inflammatory agents (including coxibs) in combination
with ACE-inhibitors (remark over the counter access);
possible use of nitrates, in sublingual or spray form, as
a transitory symptomatic treatment, administered at
the onset of acute dyspnoea or as prevention in certain
situations.
Drugs to avoid or beware
The following drugs should be used with caution when
co-prescribed with any form of heart failure treatment
or avoided:186
(i) Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) and
coxibs
(ii) Class I anti-arrhythmics (page 28)
(iii) Calcium antagonists (verapamil, diltiazem, shortacting dihydropyridine derivatives (page 27)
(iv) Tricyclic anti-depressants
(v) Corticosteroids
(vi) Lithium.
ESC Guidelines
Rest, exercise, and exercise training
Rest
In AHF or destabilization of CHF physical rest or bed rest
is necessary. Passive mobilization exercises are carried
out to prevent untoward effects resulting from prolonged
bed rest and to attenuate the risk of venous thrombosis.
As the clinical condition of the patient improves,
respiratory exercises and active mobilization can be
carried out.
Page 19 of 45
.
.
Exercise
In order to prevent muscle de-conditioning the patient, if
in a stable condition, should be encouraged to and
advised on how to carry out daily physical and leisure
time activities that do not induce symptoms. Strenuous
or isometric exercises and competitive and tiring sport
should be discouraged. If the patient is employed, their
work tasks must be assessed and advice given on
whether they can be continued.
Exercise training
Exercise training programs are encouraged in stable
patients in NYHA class II–III. In clinical practice, exercise
intolerance in CHF has a multi-factorial aetiology.
Changes in the periphery rather than left ventricular performance itself are important determinants of exercise
capacity. Several small clinical and mechanistic studies
and some randomized trials have shown that regular exercise can safely increase physical capacity by 15–25%,
improve symptoms and perception of quality of life in
patients with stable class II and III heart failure187 (Class
of recommendation I, level of evidence B). No significant
deleterious effects or significant deterioration in central
haemodynamics have been reported with exercise
training.
Standardized recommendations for exercise training
in heart failure patients by the ESC have been
published.128
Exercise training can be performed by either interval
or steady state exercise, applying intensities of 60–80%
of the predetermined peak heart rate. Interval training
methods may allow for more intense exercise stimuli on
peripheral muscles than obtained during steady-state
training, but without inducing greater cardiovascular
stress. Titration of exercise training should be performed
in the following order: duration, then frequency, and
then intensity. Details are provided in Table 11.
Pharmacological therapy
Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors
.
.
ACE-inhibitors are recommended as first-line therapy in
all patients, with or without symptoms, who have
reduced LVEF expressed as a reduced LVEF, i.e.
,40–45% to improve survival, symptoms, functional
capacity, and reduction of hospitalizations (Class of
recommendation I, level of evidence A).
ACE-inhibitors should be given as the initial therapy in
the absence of fluid retention. In patients with fluid
retention ACE-inhibitors should be given together
with diuretics (Class of recommendation I, level of
evidence B).
ACE-inhibition should be initiated in patients with signs
or symptoms of heart failure, even if transient, after
the acute phase of myocardial infarction, even if the
symptoms are transient to improve survival, reduce
reinfarctions and hospitalizations for heart failure
(Class of recommendation I, level of evidence A)
ACE-inhibitors should be uptitrated if possible to the
dosages shown to be effective in the large, controlled
trials in heart failure (Class of recommendation I,
level of evidence A), and not titrated based on symptomatic improvement alone (Class of recommendation I,
level of evidence C).
ACE-inhibitors in asymptomatic left ventricular
dysfunction
Asymptomatic patients with a documented left ventricular systolic dysfunction benefit from long-term ACE
inhibitor therapy (Class of recommendation I, level of
evidence A). The consistency of data from the SOLVD
Prevention Study, Survival and Ventricular Enlargement
(SAVE) and TRACE has shown that asymptomatic patients
with left ventricular dysfunction will have less development of symptomatic heart failure and hospitalizations
for heart failure.14,188–190
ACE-inhibitors in symptomatic heart failure
A meta-analysis in 12 763 patients with left ventricular
dysfunction and/or heart failure from five large
controlled trials, including three studies in patients
early after myocardial infarction, showed that ACE-inhibition significantly reduces mortality, admissions for
heart failure and re-infarction, independent of age, sex
and baseline use of diuretics, and aspirin and beta-blockade. Benefit was apparent over the full range of left ventricular function at baseline.191
The absolute benefit is greatest in patients with most
severe heart failure.192 ACE-inhibition markedly
enhances survival in patients with signs or symptoms of
heart failure after the acute phase of myocardial infarction, even if the symptoms are transient.193 In addition to
these effects on mortality, ACE-inhibitors in general
improve the functional status of patients with heart
failure. In contrast, only small benefits in exercise
capacity occur.
ACE-inhibitors should always be uptitrated to the
target dose used in large controlled clinical trials, if
tolerated, to reduce long-term morbidity and mortality.
ACE-inhibitors should not be titrated based on symptomatic improvement.
Important adverse effects associated with ACEinhibitors are cough, hypotension, renal insufficiency,
hyperkalaemia, angioedema, and syncope. Although
cough may often be due to heart failure or concomitant
diseases (e.g. respiratory disease), dry cough is a side
effect of ACE-inhibitors. Severe cough may lead to
discontinuation of ACE-inhibitor therapy. Some patients
may tolerate re-institution of the ACE-inhibitor after a
drug-free period. The substitute for ACE-inhibitors
Page 20 of 45
ESC Guidelines
Table 11 Exercise training
Steady state training
Frequency of sessions
Shorter multiple daily sessions of 5–10 min should be advised to more compromised patients; longer (20–30 min) sessions 3–5 times
a week should be recommended to patients with good functional capacity
Intensity of training sessions
Initial improvements of aerobic capacity and symptoms in traditional programmes occur at 4 weeks; the maximum time required to
attain peak responses in physical and cardiopulmonary variables is 16 and 26 weeks, respectively; then responses plateau. Three
stages of progression have been observed: an initial stage, improvement, and maintenance stage
In the initial stage, intensity should be kept at a low level (e.g. 40–50% peak VO2), increasing the exercise duration from 5 to
15 min. Exercise duration and frequency of training are increased according to symptoms and clinical status
During the improvement stage, the gradual increase of intensity (50% ! 60% ! 70% and even ! 80%, if tolerated, of peak VO2)
is the primary aim; prolongation of a session to 15–20 min, and if tolerated, up to 30 min is a secondary goal
The maintenance stage in exercise programmes usually begins after the first 6 months of training. Further improvements may
be minimal, but continuing the exercise training is important. Effects of a 3 week residential training programme were lost
after only 3 weeks of activity restriction, suggesting the need for implementing long-term exercise training into the therapy
management of CHF
Interval training
Cycling
With cycling, work phases of 30 s and recovery phases of 60 s may be useful with an intensity of the 50% of maximum short-term
exercise capacity, determined with the patient starting with unloaded pedalling for 3 min and then increasing the work rate by
25 W every 10 s. During the recovery phase, patients pedal at 10 W
Treadmill
On a treadmill, work and recovery phases of 60 s each may be used
when not tolerated should be an angiotensin receptor
antagonist.
Changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure and
increases in serum creatinine are usually small in normotensive patients. Moderate renal insufficiency and a relatively low blood pressure (serum creatinine up to
250 mmol/L and systolic blood pressure as low as
90 mmHg) are not contraindications to ACE-inhibitor
treatment. Serum creatinine might increase by 10–15%
in patients with severe heart failure, irrespective of
baseline serum creatinine.194 In most of these patients,
creatinine levels either will remain stable or decrease
towards pre-treatment values during continued treatment. It should be stressed that mortality is higher
among patients with elevated creatinine levels and that
these patients in particular benefit from treatment with
ACE-inhibitors.195 The risk of hypotension and renal dysfunction increases in patients with severe heart failure,
those treated with high doses of diuretics, elderly
patients and patients with renal dysfunction or hyponatraemia. Changes in serum potassium are usually small
(0.2 mmol/L). Whereas mild hyperkalaemia is not a contraindication to use ACE-inhibitors, serum potassium
levels .5.5 mmol/L are. If potassium-sparing diuretics
were prescribed to correct serum potassium levels,
they should be discontinued during initiation of ACEinhibitor therapy.
ACE-inhibitor treatment is contraindicated in the presence of bilateral renal artery stenosis and angioedema
during previous ACE-inhibitor therapy (Class of recommendation III, level of evidence A).
The effect of ACE-inhibition in heart failure has been
documented in target doses that are usually higher than
those used in clinical practice. Furthermore, in the
ATLAS trial the first secondary endpoint was death or
all-cause hospitalization which was reduced in patients
with a higher than a lower dose regimen.196 Target maintenance dose ranges of ACE-inhibitors shown to be effective in various trials are given in Table 13.
Recommended initiating and maintenance dosages of
ACE-inhibitors which have documented effect of heart
failure in Europe are presented in Table 12.
The dose of ACE-inhibitors should always be initiated at
the lower dose level and titrated to the target dose. The
recommended procedures for starting an ACE-inhibitor
are given in Table 14.
Initiating ACE-inhibitor therapy
The dose of the chosen ACE-inhibitor should be
titrated up to the maximum target dose used in clinical
trials. When initiating therapy, careful attention
should be given to the locally approved prescribing
information.
Regular monitoring of renal function is recommended:
(1) before, 1–2 weeks after each dose increment and at
3–6-months interval, (2) when the dose of an ACE-inhibitor is increased or other treatments, which may affect
renal function, are added e.g. aldosterone antagonist
or angiotensin receptor blocker, (3) in patients with
past or present renal dysfunction or electrolyte disturbances more frequent measurements should be made,
or (4) during any hospitalization.
ESC Guidelines
Page 21 of 45
Table 12 Doses of ACE-inhibitors shown to be effective in large, controlled trials of heart failure or left ventricular dysfunction
Studies of mortality
Drug
Target dose
Mean daily dose
Studies in CHF
CONSENSUS Trial Study Group, 1987192
V-HeFT II, 1991243
The SOLVD Investigators, 1991353
ATLAS, 1999196
Enalapril
Enalapril
Enalapril
Lisinopril
20 mg b.i.d.
10 mg b.i.d.
10 mg b.i.d.
High dose:
Low dose:
18.4 mg
15.0 mg
16.6 mg
32.5–35 mg daily
2.5–5 mg daily
Studies after MI LV dysfunction with or without HF
SAVE, 1992188
AIRE, 1993193
TRACE, 1995 189
Captopril
Ramipril
Trandolapril
50 mg t.i.d.
5 mg b.i.d.
4 mg daily
127 mg
(not available)
(not available)
Care should be taken in patients with low systolic blood
pressure or serum creatinine above 250 mmol/L. Patients
with a systolic level below 100 mmHg should have
therapy initiated under specialist medical care. Modest,
orthostatic hypotension may occur. Low blood pressures
(,90 mmHg) during ACE-inhibitor treatment are acceptable if the patient is asymptomatic.
Table 13 Recommended ACE-inhibitor maintenance dose
ranges for some agents approved for heart failure in Europe
Drug
.
Diuretics are essential for symptomatic treatment
when fluid overload is present and manifest as pulmonary congestion or peripheral oedema. The use of diuretics results in rapid improvement of dyspnoea and
increased exercise tolerance (Class of recommendation
I, level of evidence A).197,198
There are no controlled, randomized trials that have
assessed the effect on symptoms or survival of these
agents. Diuretics should always be administered in
combination with ACE-inhibitors and beta-blockers
if tolerated (Class of recommendation I, level of evidence C).
Detailed recommendations and major side effects are
outlined in Tables 15 and 16.
Loop diuretics, thiazides, and metolazone are all used
at various stages in the treatment of heart failure.
Compared with control groups, patients treated with
diuretics had a reduced risk of worsening heart failure
and an improved exercise tolerance. There was also a
trend for lower mortality in small trials.199 Mild heart
failure can be treated with a thiazide diuretic, but as
heart failure worsens, a loop diuretic is usually necessary.
At equivalent doses, all loop diuretics produce a comparable increase in urine output. Patients with severe heart
failure often require increasing doses of loop diuretics.
This may be caused by worsening renal function or
decreased gastrointestinal absorption of furosemide.
In such cases, replacement of furosemide by torasemide
can be a solution because the bio-availability of the
latter loop diuretic is not reduced in patients with
heart failure.200 Because of the better absorption of torasemide, a more stable diuretic treatment may be
achieved with a reduction of re-admissions for heart
failure.201 Intravenous drug administration, and in
Maintenance dose
Documented effects on mortality/hospitalization
Captopril
6.25 mg t.i.d.
25–50 mg t.i.d.
Enalapril
2.5 mg daily
10 mg b.i.d.
Lisinopril
2.5 mg daily
5–20 mg daily
2.5–5 mg b.i.d.
Ramipril
1.25–2.5 mg daily
Trandolapril
1 mg daily
4 mg daily
Diuretics
Loop diuretics, thiazides, and metolazone
.
Initiating dose
Manufacturers’ or regulatory recommendations.
particular continuous intravenous infusion of a loop
diuretic, also often overcomes the diuretic resistance.358
Thiazide diuretics are less effective if the glomerular
filtration rate falls below 30 mL/min, a situation that
is commonly encountered in elderly patients with
heart failure. In severe heart failure, thiazides have a
synergistic effect with loop diuretics and may be
used in combination.202 It is probable that this
combination is superior in terms of efficacy or adverse
effect to increasing the dose of a loop diuretic.
Metolazone is a powerful diuretic, which is often used
as a drug of last resort added to loop diuretics;
however, metolazone is not available in all European
countries. Worsening renal function and hyponatraemia
may occur as a consequence of overuse of loop diuretics
or diuretic combinations.
Potassium-sparing diuretics
.
.
Potassium-sparing diuretics should only be prescribed if
hypokalaemia persists despite ACE-inhibition, or in
severe heart failure despite the combination ACE-inhibition and low-dose spironolactone (Class of recommendation I, level of evidence C).
Potassium supplements are generally ineffective in this
situation (Class of recommendation III, level of evidence C).
Most patients on diuretics for heart failure will also be
treated with an ACE-inhibitor. Until recently, the combination of potassium sparing diuretics and ACE-inhibitors
Page 22 of 45
ESC Guidelines
Table 14 The recommended procedure for starting an ACEinhibitor or an angiotensin receptor blocker
Table 15 Diuretics
Initial diuretic treatment
Loop diuretics or thiazides. Always administered in
addition to an ACE-inhibitor
If GFR ,30 mL/min do not use thiazides, except as
therapy prescribed synergistically with loop diuretics
Insufficient response:
increase dose of diuretic
combine loop diuretic and thiazide
with persistent fluid retention: administer
loop diuretic twice daily
in severe heart failure add
metolazone with frequent measurement of
creatinine and electrolytes
Potassium-sparing diuretics: triamterene, amiloride,
spironolactone
Use only if hypokalaemia persists after initiation
of therapy with ACE-inhibitors and diuretics
Start 1-week low-dose administration; check
serum potassium and creatinine after 5–7 days and
titrate accordingly. Recheck every 5–7 days until
potassium values are stable
Review the need for and dose of diuretics and vasodilators
Avoid excessive diuresis before treatment. Consider reducing
or withholding diuretics, if being used, for 24 h
It may be advisable to start treatment in the evening, when
supine, to minimize the potential negative effect on blood
pressure, although there are no data in heart failure to
support this. When initiated in the morning, supervision
for several hours with blood pressure control is advisable in
risk patients with renal dysfunction or low blood pressure
Start with a low dose (Table 13 ) and build up to maintenance
dosages shown to be effective in large trials (Table 12 )
If renal function deteriorates substantially, stop treatment
Avoid potassium-sparing diuretics during initiation of therapy
Avoid NSAIDs or coxibs
Check blood pressure, renal function, and electrolytes
1–2 weeks after each dose increment, at 3 months, and
subsequently at 6 regular monthly intervals
The following patients should be referred for specialist care:
Cause of heart failure unknown
Systolic blood pressure ,100 mmHg
Serum creatinine .150 mmol/L
Serum sodium ,135 mmol/L
Severe heart failure
Valve disease as primary cause
GFR ¼ glomerular filtration rate.
.
was regarded as potentially dangerous. One small, controlled study suggests that the administration of spironolactone at dosages that result in diuresis and natriuresis
(i.e. 50–100 mg) may result in rapid weight reduction
without hyperkalaemia in patients who are not responding to loop diuretics and ACE-inhibitors.203 Accordingly,
lower doses of spironolactone are not considered as potassium-sparing agents (described succeedingly). At
present, potassium-sparing diuretics, such as triamterene, amiloride, and relatively high dosages of spironolactone, should only be considered if there is persisting
diuretic-induced hypokalaemia despite concomitant
ACE-inhibitor therapy, or in severe heart failure despite
concomitant ACE-inhibition plus low-dose spironolactone. Similar restrictions also pertain in case of intolerance
of ACE-inhibition and replacement therapy with angiotensin receptor blockers. Oral potassium supplements
are less effective in maintaining body potassium stores
during diuretic treatment.204 In general, the use of all
potassium-sparing diuretics should be monitored by
repeated measurements of serum creatinine and potassium. A practical approach is to measure serum creatinine and potassium every 5–7 days after initiation of
treatment until the values are stable. Thereafter,
measurements can be made every 3–6 months.
Beta-adrenoceptor antagonists
.
Beta-blocking agents are recommended for the treatment of all patients (in NYHA class II–IV) with stable,
mild, moderate, and severe heart failure from ischaemic or non-ischaemic cardiomyopathies and reduced
LVEF on standard treatment, including diuretics and
.
.
ACE-inhibitors, unless there is a contraindication
(Class of recommendation I, level of evidence A).
Beta-blocking therapy reduces hospitalizations (all,
cardiovascular and heart failure), improves the functional class and leads to less worsening of heart
failure. This beneficial effect has been consistently
observed in subgroups of different age, gender,
functional class, LVEF, and ischaemic or non-ischaemic
aetiology (Class of recommendation I, level of
evidence A).
In patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction,
with or without symptomatic heart failure, following
an acute myocardial infarction long-term beta-blockade is recommended in addition to ACE-inhibition to
reduce mortality (Class of recommendation I, level of
evidence B).205
Differences in clinical effects may be present between
different beta-blockers in patients with heart
failure.206,207 Accordingly, only bisoprolol, carvedilol,
metoprolol succinate, and nebivolol can be recommended (Class of recommendation I, level of
evidence A).
Extensive information is now available of the additional
value of beta-blockers on top of background ACE-inhibitor therapy if tolerated. In several large randomized
placebo-controlled mortality trials, carvedilol,208–210
bisoprolol,211 and metoprolol succinate212,213 have been
associated with a long-term reduction in total mortality,
cardiovascular mortality, sudden death and death that is
caused by progression of heart failure in patients in functional class II–IV. In these studies, beta-blocking therapy
also reduces hospitalizations (all, cardiovascular and
heart failure), improves the functional class and leads
to less worsening of heart failure than placebo. This beneficial effect has been consistently observed in subgroups
ESC Guidelines
Page 23 of 45
Table 16 Diuretics (oral): dosages and side-effects
Initial
dose (mg)
Loop diuretics
Furosemide
Bumetanide
Torasemide
Thiazides
Bendroflumethiazide
Hydrochlorothiazide
Metolazone
Indapamide
Potassium-sparing diuretic
Amiloride
Triamterene
Spironolactone
Maximum recommended
daily dose (mg)
20–40
250–500
0.5–1.0
5–10
5–10
100–200
2.5
25
10
50–75
2.5
2.5
þACEI
2.5
25
12.5–25
2ACEI
5
50
50
10
5
2ACEI
40
200
100–200
þACEI
20
100
50
of different age, gender, functional class, LVEF, and
ischaemic or non-ischaemic aetiology (Class of recommendation I, level of evidence A).214 Beta-blockers
are the only heart failure drugs that cause a significant
improvement of LVEF, which occurs both in patients
with ischaemic and non-ischaemic aetiology of heart
failure.215
However, the improved left ventricular systolic function does not constantly result in a better exercise
capacity probably because of the negative chronotropic
effects of beta-blockers.
A reduction in mortality and hospitalization has been
demonstrated with several beta-blockers in CHF,
although the size of the treatment effect can differ
between agents. In SENIORS, nebivolol significantly
reduced the composite outcome of death or cardiovascular hospitalizations in elderly patients across reduced and
preserved ejection fractions.216 In one large trial, no significant benefit on survival was observed with bucindolol.206 A direct comparison between carvedilol and
metoprolol tartrate has been reported in Carvedilol Or
Metoprolol European Trial (COMET).207 In this doubleblind, randomized parallel group trial over 58 months
all-cause mortality was 34% for carvedilol and 40% for
metoprolol (hazard ratio 0.83 [95% CI 0.74–0.93]
P ¼ 0.0017). In contrast, the composite endpoint of
mortality and all-cause admission was not different in
the two treatment groups (74% on carvedilol and 76%
on metoprolol, P ¼ 0.122).
COMET provides further support for using documented
beta-blockers as titrated in trials. Accordingly, metoprolol tartrate is not recommended for use in treatment of
CHF at doses used in COMET. Accordingly, only bisoprolol,
carvedilol, and metoprolol succinate can be recommended at present (Class of recommendation I,
level of evidence A, class I).
A further argument for a more consequent use of betablockers is the observation that they have an additive
effect to ACE-inhibitors and the combination reduces
Major side effects
Hypokalaemia, hypomagnesaemia,
hyponatraemia
Hyperuricaemia, glucose intolerance
Acid–base disturbance
Hypokalaemia, hypomagnesaemia,
hyponatraemia
Hyperuricaemia, glucose intolerance
Acid–base disturbance
Hyperkalaemia, rash
Hyperkalaemia
Hyperkalaemia, gynaecomastia,
zbreast pain
cardiovascular mortality and hospitalizations for heart
failure more than ACE-inhibitors alone. This was clearly
documented by secondary analyses of the SOLVD217 and
SAVE trials.218
Initiation of therapy
As beta-blocker action may be biphasic with long-term
improvement, possibly preceded by initial worsening,
beta-blockers should be initiated under careful control.
The initial dose should be small and increased slowly and
progressively to the target dose used in the large clinical
trials. Up-titration should be adapted to individual
responses. Analysis of the dose response effects in the
MERIT219 and CIBIS II trials220also showed mortality
reductions in the lower dose groups. Therefore, it is
evident that even a low dose of a beta-blocker is superior
to a treatment without beta-blocker administration. The
introduction of beta-blockers should, therefore, always be
attempted even if the titration period has to be prolonged.
Beta-blockers may reduce heart rate excessively, may
temporarily induce myocardial depression and precipitate heart failure. In addition, beta-blockers may initiate
or exacerbate asthma and induce peripheral vasoconstriction. Table 17 gives the recommended procedure
for the use of beta-blockers in clinical practice and contraindications. Table 18 shows the titration scheme of the
drugs used in the most relevant studies.
Aldosterone receptor antagonists
.
.
Aldosterone antagonists are recommended in addition
to ACE-inhibitors, beta-blockers, and diuretics in
advanced heart failure (NYHA III–IV) to improve survival and morbidity (Class of recommendation I, level
of evidence B).
Aldosterone antagonists are recommended in addition
to ACE-inhibition and beta-blockade in heart failure
after myocardial infarction with left ventricular systolic dysfunction and signs of heart failure or diabetes
Page 24 of 45
ESC Guidelines
to reduce mortality and morbidity (Class of recommendation I, level of evidence B).
Table 17 The recommended procedure for starting a
beta-blocker
Although spironolactone was developed as a diuretic
agent at a higher dose level, it is now understood that
aldosterone has an important role in the pathophysiology
of heart failure. It promotes vascular and myocardial
fibrosis, potassium and magnesium depletion, sympathetic activation, parasympathetic inhibition, and baroreceptor
dysfunction.
ACE-inhibitors
insufficiently
suppress circulating aldosterone levels.
The RALES mortality trial showed that low-dose spironolactone (12.5–50 mg) on top of an ACE-inhibitor, a loop
diuretic and digoxin markedly and progressively improved
survival of patients in advanced (NYHA class III–IV) heart
failure, irrespective of aetiology.221 At this dose, spironolactone is believed not to have an appreciable diuretic
effect. Both death from progressive heart failure and
sudden cardiac death were reduced in RALES, and
although only 11% received a beta-blocker, the mortality
reduction was significant in this prespecified subgroup.
Whether an aldosterone antagonist is of proven benefit
in patients with class II heart failure or asymptomatic
left ventricular dysfunction remains to be established.
In the EPHESUS trial, 6 632 patients with reduced
ejection fraction and heart failure (or diabetes)
post-infarction were enrolled.222 This trial utilized eplerenone, which blocks more selectively the mineralcorticoid receptor, rather than glucocorticoid, progesterone
or androgen receptors. In EPHESUS, the effect of
eplerenone in a dose of 25–50 mg daily demonstrated a
15% significant reduction in mortality as well as the
number of patients hospitalized for heart failure. The
findings were also evident on sudden death, in particular
among patients with an ejection fraction ,30%. The
safety profile of eplerenone is better in this context for
eplerenone with no increased risk of gynaecomastia.
Administration and dosing considerations for aldosterone antagonists are provided in Table 19.
Adverse effects of spironolactone
If painful gynaecomastia develops (10% in RALES), spironolactone may need to be stopped. Both spironolactone
and eplerenone increase the risk of severe hyperkalaemia
but reduce the risk of hypokalaemia, which emphasizes
the need for monitoring.223 Therefore, the outcome
trials with spironolactone and eplerenone excluded
patients with serum creatinine .221 mmol/L (2.5 mg/
dL) and serum potassium .5 mmol/L. When spironolactone was more widely used, an increased risk of hyperkalaemia has been reported.224
Angiotensin II receptor blockers
For patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction:
.
Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) can be used as
an alternative to ACE-inhibition in symptomatic
patients intolerant to ACE-inhibitors to improve
morbidity and mortality (Class of recommendation I,
level of evidence B).
I Patients should be on a background therapy with ACE
inhibition, if not contraindicated
II The patient should be in a relatively stable condition,
without the need of intravenous inotropic therapy
and without signs of marked fluid retention
III Start with a very low dose (Table 18) and titrate up to
maintenance dosages shown to be effective in large
trials. The dose may be doubled every 1–2 weeks if
the preceding dose was well tolerated. Most patients
can be managed as out-patients
IV Transient worsening failure, hypotension, or bradycardia
may occur during the titration period or thereafter
a Monitor the patient for evidence of heart failure
symptoms, fluid retention, hypotension, and
symptomatic bradycardia
b If worsening of symptoms, first increase the dose of
diuretics or ACE-inhibitor; temporarily reduce the
dose of beta-blockers if necessary
c If hypotension, first reduce the dose of vasodilators;
reduce the dose of the beta-blocker if necessary
d Reduce or discontinue drugs that may lower heart
rate in presence of bradycardia; reduce dose of
beta-blockers if necessary, but discontinue only
if clearly necessary
e Always consider the reintroduction and/or
uptitration of the beta-blocker when the
patient becomes stable
V If inotropic support is needed to treat a decompensated
patient on beta-blockade, phosphodiesterase
inhibitors should be preferred because their
haemodynamic effects are not antagonized by
beta-blocker agents
The following patients should be referred for specialist care
a Severe heart failure Class III/IV
b Unknown aetiology
c Relative contraindications: asymptomatic bradycardia
and/or low blood pressure
d Intolerance to low doses
e Previous use of beta-blocker and discontinuation because
of symptoms
f Suspicion of bronchial asthma or severe pulmonary
disease
Contraindications to beta-blockers in patients with heart
failure
g Bronchial asthma
h Severe bronchial disease
i Symptomatic bradycardia or hypotension
.
.
.
ARBs and ACE-inhibitors seem to have similar efficacy in
CHF on mortality and morbidity (Class of recommendation IIa, level of evidence B).
In acute myocardial infarction with signs of heart
failure or left ventricular dysfunction ARBs and ACEinhibitors have similar or equivalent effects on mortality (Class of recommendation I, level of evidence A).
ARBs can be considered in combination with ACE-inhibitors in patients who remain symptomatic to reduce mortality (Class of recommendation IIa, level of evidence B)
ESC Guidelines
Page 25 of 45
Table 18 Initiating dose, target dose, and titration scheme of beta-blocking agents as used in recent large, controlled trials
Beta-blocker
First dose (mg)
Increments (mg/day)
Target dose
(mg/day)
Titration period
Bisoprolol 211
Metoprolol succinate CR212
Carvedilol210
Nebivolol216
1.25
12.5/25
3.125
1.25
2.5, 3.75, 5, 7.5, 10
25, 50, 100, 200
6.25, 12.5, 25, 50
2.5, 5, 10
10
200
50
10
Weeks–month
Weeks–month
Weeks–month
Weeks–month
Daily frequency of administration as in the trials referenced here.
and hospital admissions for heart failure (Class of
recommendation I, level of evidence A).
In NYHA class III patients remaining symptomatic despite
therapy with diuretics, ACE-inhibitors, and betablockers, there is no definite evidence as to whether
the addition of an ARB or aldosterone antagonist will
further reduce hospitalization for heart failure or mortality. Concerns raised by initial studies about a potential
negative interaction between ARBs and beta-blockers
have not been confirmed by recent studies in post-myocardial infarction or CHF.
ARBs vs. placebo
In symptomatic patients with CHF intolerant to ACEinhibitors because of cough, symptomatic hypotension,
or renal dysfunction candesartan significantly reduced
cardiovascular death or hospital admission for heart
failure, whereas the rate of discontinuation of the
study drug was similar to placebo.225 In all patients
with symptomatic heart failure, irrespective of background ACE-inhibitor or beta-blocker therapy, candesartan reduced all-cause mortality, particularly among
those with left ventricular systolic dysfunction.226
Further, hospital admissions for heart failure were
reduced significantly.227 In another trial valsartan
improved significantly the combined endpoint of mortality and morbidity and mortality alone in the small subgroup of patients not receiving an ACE-inhibitor.228,229
ARBs vs. ACE-inhibitors
The direct comparison of the two classes was assessed in
Elite II in CHF and showed that Losartan was not as effective as Captopril, although the rate of discontinuation for
adverse effects was reduced.230 Together with smaller
trials, meta-analyses show similar efficacy on mortality
and morbidity.231,232 Two trials evaluated ARBs against
ACE-inhibition in post-myocardial infarction with left
ventricular dysfunction or signs of heart failure. The
direct comparison of losartan with captopril indicated
that losartan was not as effective as captopril on allcause mortality,233 whereas valsartan, although not
superior, was demonstrated to be as effective as captopril on the same outcome in the second trial.234
ARBs on top of ACE-inhibitors
Addition of ARBs on top of ACE-inhibitors in patients
remaining symptomatic improves morbidity and
Table 19 Administration and dosing considerations with
aldosterone antagonists (spironolactone, eplerenone)
† Consider whether a patient is in severe heart failure
(NYHA III–IV) despite ACE-inhibition/diuretics
† Check serum potassium (,5.0 mmol/L) and creatinine
(,250 mmol/L)
† Add a low dose (spironolactone 12.5–25 mg, eplerenone
25 mg) daily
† Check serum potassium and creatinine after 4–6 days
† If at any time serum potassium 5–5.5 mmol/L, reduce
dose by 50%. Stop if serum potassium .5.5 mmol/L
† If after 1 month symptoms persist and normokalaemia
exists, increase to 50 mg daily. Check serum
potassium/creatinine after 1 week
mortality. In Val-HeFT addition of valsartan to background
therapy, including ACE-inhibitors, reduced significantly
heart failure hospitalizations and improved signs/symptoms of heart failure and quality of life.229 In CHARM
added, candesartan on top of ACE-inhibitors significantly
reduced the primary outcome of cardiovascular death or
hospital admission for heart failure by 15% and each component of the primary composite in patients with reduced
ejection fraction.235 These results, together with metaanalysis,231,232 suggest the beneficial role of the dual
inhibition of the renin angiotensin system through
ACE-inhibition and Angiotensin II receptor blockade in
patients remaining symptomatic under ACE-inhibitors
alone. The higher rate of discontinuation because of
dizziness/hypotension, renal impairment or hyperkalaemia in both trials in the combination arm indicates
the need for careful monitoring of blood pressure,
renal function and potassium levels in these patients.
In post-myocardial infarction with left ventricular
dysfunction or heart failure (VALIANT), the combination
of an ARB with an ACE-inhibitor had similar efficacy
compared with treatment with each agent alone
but was associated with a higher incidence of sideeffects.
ARBs and beta-blockers
Early studies, including ELITE II and Val-HeFT, suggested a
trend towards a negative effect of the combinations
losartan with beta-blocker or valsartan with ACEinhibitor and beta-blocker. However, such an interaction
was not observed in the OPTIMAAL trial in post-
Page 26 of 45
ESC Guidelines
myocardial infarction for the combination losartan with
beta-blocker, in CHARM added for the combination
candesartan with ACE-inhibitor and beta-blocker in CHF,
and in VALIANT for the combination valsartan with
captopril and beta-blocker.
Therefore, there is no evidence that the combinations
ARBs and beta-blockers or ARBs, ACE-inhibitors, and
beta-blockers have a deleterious effect in either CHF or
post-myocardial infarction.
Dosing
The fact that the doses of losartan used in ELITE II and
OPTIMAAL (target dose 50 mg) were not as effective as
the ACE-inhibitor captopril, whereas high doses of
candesartan (target dose 32 mg once daily) or valsartan
(up to 160 mg twice daily) were associated with a significant improvement in cardiovascular morbidity-mortality
(CHARM added and alternative) or heart failure morbidity
(Val-HeFT) on top of ACE-inhibition raises the hypothesis
that high target doses of ARBs are required to result in a
beneficial effect in CHF or to be as effective as ACE-inhibition in this setting (Table 20 ).
Initiation and monitoring of ARBs, which are outlined in
Table 14, are similar to procedures for ACE-inhibitors.
Cardiac glycosides
.
.
.
Cardiac glycosides are indicated in atrial fibrillation
and any degree of symptomatic heart failure,
whether or not left ventricular dysfunction is the
cause. Cardiac glycosides slow the ventricular rate,
which improves ventricular function and symptoms
(Class of recommendation I, level of evidence B).236
A combination of digoxin and beta-blockade appears
superior to either agent alone in patients with atrial
fibrillation (Class of recommendation IIa, level of evidence B).237
Digoxin has no effect on mortality but may reduce hospitalizations and, particularly, worsening heart failure
hospitalizations, in the patients with heart failure
caused by left ventricular systolic dysfunction and
sinus rhythm treated with ACE-inhibitors, betablockers, diuretics and, in severe heart failure, spironolactone (Class of recommendation IIa, level of
evidence A).
Digoxin and digitoxin are the most frequently used
cardiac glycosides. They have identical pharmacodynamic effects but different pharmacokinetic profiles.
Elimination of digoxin is renal. In contrast, digitoxin is
metabolized in the liver and is less dependent of renal
function, potentially useful in renal dysfunction and in
elderly patients. Clinical trials referred here have been
carried out with digoxin.
In the DIG trial in 6 800 patients with an ischaemic and
non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy and mild to moderate
heart failure, long-term digoxin did not improve survival.
Furthermore, a small decrease in the risk of death from
heart failure was offset by an increase in the risk of
death from other causes. A significant reduction,
however, was observed for hospitalizations for worsening
heart failure as well as all-cause hospitalizations and
Table 20 Currently available angiotensin II receptor
antagonists
Drug
Daily dose (mg)
Documented effects on mortality/morbidity
4–32
Candesartan227
Valsartan229
80–320
Also available
Eprosartan354
400–800
Losartan177,230
50–100
150–300
Irbesartan355
Telmisartan356
40–80
total number of hospitalizations per patient.238 A later
report from this trial suggests an increased risk of
death in women but not in men by digoxin.239 Another
report suggested that better effect was observed
with serum digoxin ,0.5 ng/mL compared with
.0.9 ng/mL.240 Thus, the primary benefit and indication
of digoxin in heart failure is the reduction of symptoms
and improvement of the clinical status, and thereby to
decrease the risk of hospitalization for heart failure
without an impact on survival.241
Contraindications to the use of cardiac glycosides
include bradycardia, second- and third-degree AV block,
sick sinus syndrome, carotid sinus syndrome, Wolff–
Parkinson–White syndrome, hypertrophic obstructive
cardiomyopathy, hypokalaemia, and hyperkalaemia, as
this may increase malignant arrhythmias.
Digoxin
The usual daily dose of oral digoxin is 0.125–0.25 mg if
serum creatinine is in the normal range (in the elderly
0.0625–0.125 mg, occasionally 0.25 mg). No loading
dose is needed when treating chronic conditions. The
treatment can also be initiated with 0.25 mg bid for
2 days. Renal function and plasma potassium should
always be measured before starting treatment. In renal
failure, the daily doses should be reduced accordingly.
As the digoxin clearance closely approximates to the
creatinine clearance, the latter should be measured or
calculated as provided in Table 3.
Vasodilator agents in CHF
.
There is no specific role for direct-acting vasodilators in
the treatment of CHF (Class of recommendation III,
level of evidence A).
Hydralazine-isosorbide dinitrate
.
Vasodilator agents may be used as adjunctive therapy
in the management of heart failure. In case of intolerance of ACE-inhibitors and ARBs, the combination
hydralazine/nitrates can be tried (Class of recommendation I, level of evidence B).
Relatively high doses of hydralazine (up to 300 mg) in
combination with high-dose isosorbide dinitrate (up to
160 mg) without ACE-inhibition may have some beneficial
ESC Guidelines
effects on mortality, but not on hospitalization for heart
failure.242 At these doses, the combination increased
exercise performance more when compared with enalapril.243 In African-American patients the administration
of 1–2 tablets tid of the fixed doses combination of
isosorbide dinitrate (20 mg) and hydralazine (37.5 mg)
reduced mortality and morbidity and improved quality
of life.244
Page 27 of 45
nesiritide is still limited. Nesiritide may cause hypotension and some patients are non-responders. Effects of
nesiritide has not been demonstrated on clinical
outcome.249
Positive inotropic therapy
.
Nitrates
.
Nitrates may be used as adjunctive therapy for angina
or relief of dyspnea (Class of recommendation IIa,
level of evidence C). Evidence that oral nitrates
improve symptoms of heart failure chronically or
during an acute exacerbation is lacking.
Early development of haemodynamic tolerance (tachyphylaxis) to nitrates may occur with frequent dosing
(every 4–6 h), but is less with intervals of 8–12 h245 or
in conjunction with ACE-inhibitors or hydralazine.246
Alpha-adrenergic blocking drugs
.
There is no evidence to support the use of alphaadrenergic blocking drugs in heart failure (Class of recommendation III, level of evidence B).242
Calcium antagonists
.
.
In heart failure caused by systolic dysfunction, calcium
antagonists are not recommended for the treatment of
heart failure. Diltiazem- and verapamil-type calcium
antagonists in particular are not recommended in
heart failure because of systolic dysfunction; they are
contraindicated in addition to beta-blockade (Class of
recommendation III, level of evidence C).
Newer calcium antagonists (felodipine and amlodipine)
in addition to baseline therapy, including ACE-inhibitors
and diuretics, do not provide a better effect on survival
when compared with placebo (Class of recommendation III, level of evidence A).247,248
As long-term safety data with felodipine and amlodipine
indicate a neutral effect on survival, they may be considered as additional therapy for concomitant arterial
hypertension or angina not controlled by nitrates and
beta-blockers.
Nesiritide
Recently, nesiritide, a new class of vasodilator, has been
developed for the treatment of decompensated heart
failure. Nesiritide is a recombinant human brain or
B-type natriuretic peptide that is identical to the
endogenous hormone produced by the ventricle.
Nesiritide has venous, arterial, and coronary vasodilatory
properties that reduce preload and afterload, and
increase cardiac output without direct inotropic effects.
The drug has been shown to be efficacious in improving
subjective dyspnoea score as well as inducing significant
vasodilation when administered intravenous to patients
with acute heart failure (AHF). Clinical experience with
.
Repeated or prolonged treatment with oral
inotropic agents increases mortality and is not
recommended in CHF (Class of recommendation III,
level of evidence A).
Intravenous administration of inotropic agents is
commonly used in patients with severe heart failure
with signs of both pulmonary congestion and peripheral
hypoperfusion. However, treatment-related complications may occur and their effect on prognosis is
uncertain; depending on agent level of evidence and
strength of recommendation varies.21
Intravenous inotropic therapy is used to correct the
haemodynamic disturbances of severe episodes of worsening heart failure. The agent most often used in this
setting is dobutamine. However, its use has been insufficiently documented in controlled trials and the effects of
dobutamine on prognosis are not well characterized
(Class of recommendation IIb, level of evidence C).
Problems related to use of dobutamine are tachyphylaxis,
increase in heart rate, induction of malignant tachyarrhythmias, and/or myocardial ischaemia. Its mechanisms
of action through beta-adrenergic receptor stimulation
also makes it less effective in the patients on concomitant beta-blocker treatment.
Phosphodiesterase inhibitors like milrinone or enoximone may be more effective in the patients on concomitant beta-blocker treatment and have a peripheral and
coronary vasodilating activity which may have favorable
effects (i.e. greater decline in pulmonary pressures,
lower incidence of myocardial ischaemia). However,
they also are associated with atrial and ventricular
tachyarrhythmias and an increase in myocardial oxygen
consumption. Excessive peripheral vasodilation may
cause hypotension.250
In AHF intravenous milrinone does not reduce the
number of hospitalizations or cardiovascular events, but
leads to a higher incidence of treatment-related complications (e.g. atrial fibrillation and hypotension) when
compared with placebo.251
The newer calcium sensitizer levosimendan is indicated in patients with symptomatic low cardiac output
secondary to cardiac systolic dysfunction without severe
hypotension compared with phosphodiesterase inhbitors,
levosimendan has peculiar calcium sensitizing and peripheral vasodilator activities. It has been shown to have
greater haemodynamic efficacy and to better affect
outcome in a double-blind comparison trial with
dobutamine.252
In studies with oral treatment, milrinone, enoximone,
vesnarinone and amrinone invariably increase arrhythmias and mortality.
Page 28 of 45
Anti-thrombotic agents
.
.
.
.
.
.
In CHF associated with atrial fibrillation, a previous
thromboembolic event or a mobile left ventricular
thrombus, anti-coagulation is firmly indicated (Class
of recommendation I, level of evidence A).253
There is little evidence to show that anti-thrombotic
therapy modifies the risk of death or vascular events
in patients with heart failure.
In patients with CHF who have underlying coronary
artery disease, anti-platelet agents for prevention of
myocardial infarction and death are recommended
(Class of recommendation IIa, level of evidence B).254
Oral anti-coagulants should be preferred in patients
with previous myocardial infarction and a left ventricular mural thrombus (Class of recommendation IIa, level
of evidence C).
After a prior myocardial infarction, either aspirin or
oral anti-coagulants are recommended as secondary
prophylaxis (Class of recommendation IIa, level of evidence C).
Aspirin should be avoided in patients with recurrent
hospitalization with worsening heart failure (Class of
recommendation IIb, level of evidence B).
Patients with CHF are at high risk of thromboembolic
events. Factors predisposing to thromboembolism are
low cardiac output with relative stasis of blood in dilated
cardiac chambers, poor contractility, regional wall
motion abnormalities, and atrial fibrillation, if present.255
Ischaemic heart disease is the commonest cause of
heart failure and coronary vascular occlusion is the commonest vascular event in this population. The annual risk
of myocardial infarction in CHF is estimated from 2 to
5.4%. The reported annual risk of stroke in controlled
heart failure studies is between 1 and 2% vs. an annual
risk of stroke ,0.5% in the general population aged
50–75 years. Both in the Vasodilators in Heart Failure
trials (V-HeFT)242,243 and in the SAVE188 study the risk of
stroke was increased in older patients or in those who
had a lower ejection fraction.256 The annual risk of
stroke in the Stroke Prevention of Atrial Fibrillation
study (SPAF) was 10.3% in atrial fibrillation patients
with definite heart failure and 17.7% in those with
recent heart failure.257 Left ventricular thrombi are
detected by transthoracic echocardiography in CHF
patients with a prevalence that varies markedly in different studies from .40% to ,3%; whether evidence
of ventricular thrombus confers an increased risk of
embolization in this setting remains controversial, with
several studies suggesting a low risk of additional
events.256,258,259 More precisely, there is little evidence
to suggest that patients with a layered left ventricular
thrombus are at increased risk of thromboembolic
events, whereas the risk is increased in patients with
mobile intracardiac thrombi.
There is little evidence to support the concomitant
treatment with an ACE-inhibitor and aspirin in heart
failure.260–262
However, the rates of thromboembolic complications in
heart failure are sufficiently low to limit the evaluation
ESC Guidelines
of any potential beneficial effect of anti-coagulation/
anti-thrombotic therapy in these patients.
Anti-arrhythmics
Anti-arrhythmic drugs other than beta-blockers are
generally not indicated in patients with CHF. In patients
with atrial fibrillation (rarely flutter) or non-sustained
or sustained ventricular tachycardia treatment with
anti-arrhythmic agents may be indicated.
Class I anti-arrhythmics
.
Class I anti-arrhythmics should be avoided as they
may provoke fatal ventricular arrhythmias, have an
adverse haemodynamic effect and reduce survival in
heart failure (Class of recommendation III, level of evidence B).263
Class II anti-arrhythmics
.
.
Beta-blockers reduce sudden death in heart failure
(Class of recommendation I, level of evidence A)264
(see also page 23).
Beta-blockers may also be indicated alone or in combination with amiodarone or non-pharmacological
therapy in the management of sustained or nonsustained ventricular tachy-arrhythmias (Class of recommendation IIa, level of evidence C).265
Class III anti-arrhythmics
.
.
Amiodarone is effective against most supraventricular
and ventricular arrhythmias (Class of recommendation
I, level of evidence A). It may restore and maintain
sinus rhythm in patients with heart failure and atrial
fibrillation even in the presence of enlarged left
atria, or improve the success of electrical cardioversion. Amiodarone is the preferred treatment in this
condition.266,267 Amiodarone is the only anti-arrhythmic drug without clinically relevant negative inotropic
effects.
Routine administration of amiodarone in patients with
heart failure is not justified (Class of recommendation
III, level of evidence A).
Large trials have shown that prophylactic use of amiodarone in patients with non-sustained, asymptomatic ventricular arrhythmias and heart failure does not affect total
mortality.268,269 The risk of organ toxicity, such as hyperand hypothyroidism, hepatitis, pulmonary fibrosis, and
neuropathy, although shown to be relatively low in
recent, large, placebo-controlled trials, must be
weighed against the potential benefits of amiodarone.
Lower doses (100–200 mg/day) may reduce the risk.
Dofetilide, a new class III agent, was found to be safe in
heart failure patients as no modification of total mortality was noted. However, the incidence of torsades de
pointe was increased.270
ESC Guidelines
Oxygen therapy
.
Oxygen is used for the treatment of AHF, but in general
has no application in CHF (Class of recommendation III,
level of evidence C).
Oxygen supplementation may lead to haemodynamic
deterioration in patients with heart failure who are
free of pulmonary oedema.271 In patients with cor pulmonale, long-term oxygen therapy has been shown to
reduce mortality.272
Page 29 of 45
revascularization, although randomized clinical trials
have questioned the results of observational data.274
Clinicians may be able to justify revascularization of
selected patients with heart failure on an individual
patient basis for instance when left main coronary
disease is present.
Mitral valve surgery
.
Surgery and devices
Revascularization procedures, mitral valve surgery,
and ventricular restoration
.
If clinical symptoms of heart failure are present,
surgically correctable pathologies must always be
considered (Class of recommendation I, level of evidence C, class I).
Revascularization
.
.
There are no data from multicentre trials to support
the use of revascularization procedures for the relief
of heart failure symptoms. Single centre, observational
studies on heart failure of ischaemic origin, suggest
that revascularization might lead to symptomatic
improvement (Class of recommendation IIb, level of
evidence C).
Until the results of randomized trials are reported,
revascularization (surgical or percutaneous) is not recommended as routine management of patients with
heart failure and coronary disease. (Class of recommendation III, level of evidence C).
The pathophysiological rationale for revascularization
includes improvement of the blood supply to myocardium
affected by hibernation or ischaemia and, possibly, the
reduction of the risk or size of recurrent myocardial
infarction.132,273 Accurate selection of patients whose
left ventricular function is likely to improve after revascularization requires considerable skill and access to
advanced cardiac imaging techniques including stress
echocardiography, nuclear myocardial perfusion imaging
or cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. Patients with
left ventricular systolic dysfunction and heart failure are
at considerable increased operative mortality.273 There
remains a strong negative correlation of operative mortality and LVEF as outlined in the analysis of the Society
of Thoracic Surgeons database (WWW.CTSNET. ORG/).
Here, a low LVEF (,25%) was associated with an increased
operative mortality. Also, advanced heart failure symptoms (NYHA IV) resulted in a greater mortality rate than
in patients with mild to moderate heart failure.
A study comparing the effect of symptomatic heart
failure with left ventricular dysfunction independently
showed a stronger correlation of NYHA class with operative mortality than LVEF.274
Off pump coronary revascularization may lower the
surgical risk of both cardiac and cerebral complications
for patients with heart failure undergoing surgical
Mitral valve surgery in patients with severe left
ventricular systolic dysfunction and severe mitral
valve insufficiency due to ventricular dilatation may
lead to symptomatic improvement in selected heart
failure patients (Class of recommendation IIb, level of
evidence C).
Observational studies have indicated excellent early and
up to 5 year outcome of mitral reconstruction in patients
with end-stage cardiomyopathy.275,276
Left ventricular restoration
Anatomically, LV enlargement represents a key feature in
patients with heart failure. Irrespective of the aetiology—dilative vs. ischaemic–the pathophysiology of LV
enlargement results in increased wall tension, higher
oxygen demand, and a tendency to ongoing dilatation.
Surgical reduction of the size of the left ventricle has
therefore been attempted by a variety of approached
aiming at decreasing LV diameters and improving ejection
fraction. Among these surgical techniques, myocardial
resection can be distinguished from mitral valve repair
techniques and external compression.
LV aneurysmectomy
.
LV aneurysmectomy is indicated in patients with
large, discrete left ventricular aneurysms who
develop heart failure (Class of recommendation I,
level of evidence C).
In the past, many patients with ischaemic cardiomyopathy have profited from LV aneurysmectomy, and the technique of Vincent Dor with resection of akinetic zones and
not only diskynetic area (aneurysm), has been applied
worldwide with improvement, also regarding of LV function and heart failure symptoms.277, 278 Cooley’s endoaneurysmorraphy has been shown in uncontrolled clinical
series to improve symptoms and ventricular function in
patients with dilated ischaemic heart disease. A registry
of 662 left ventricular restoration procedures performed
in 13 centres worldwide has recently showed favourable
results in terms of hospital and mid-term mortality.279
More recently, a scientifically more sophisticated
approach of “ventricular restoration” has been introduced into clinical practice by Buckberg.280–283
Cardiomyoplasty
.
Cardiomyoplasty cannot be recommended for the
treatment of heart failure or as a viable alternative
to heart transplantation (Class of recommendation III,
level of evidence C).
Cardiomyoplasty has only been applied in a very limited
number of patients and is still undergoing investigation.
Page 30 of 45
Class IV patients should be avoided because they have a
high operative mortality.
Partial left ventriculectomy (Batista operation)
.
Currently, partial ventriculectomy cannot be recommended for the treatment of heart failure or as an
alternative to heart transplantion (Class of recommendation III, level of evidence C).
Partial, lateral resection of the left ventricle plus or
minus mitral valve surgery initially gained interest for
treatment of end-stage heart failure patients. However,
in recent studies a number of patients required ventricular assist devices or subsequent transplantation for failed
surgery.284,285
External ventricular restoration
.
Currently, external ventricular restoration cannot be
recommended for the treatment of heart failure.
Preliminary data suggest an improvement in LV dimensions and NYHA class with some devices (Class of
recommendation III, level of evidence C).
Two devices aiming at restricting enlargement of the
failing heart and reducing wall stress have entered the
clinical arena. Based on several successful animal experiments as well as a clinical study,286 the myosplint technique was used in an early clinical study. Bisection of
the left ventricle and creation of a smaller LV chamber
resulted in significantly reduced LV wall stress.287
Prospective outcome trials have to be awaited.
The Acorn external cardiac support device may reduce
wall stress and preventing further LV remodelling in heart
failure patients by an external polyester net.288 Clinical
data are still scarce but early experience would suggest
significant improvement in LV dimensions and NYHA
class.
Pacemakers
.
.
Conventional right ventricular pacing has no established role in the treatment of heart failure except
for conventional bradycardia indication (Class of recommendation III, level of evidence A).
Resynchronization therapy using bi-ventricular pacing
can be considered in patients with reduced ejection
fraction and ventricular dyssynchrony (QRS width
120 ms), who remain symptomatic (NYHA III–IV)
despite optimal medical therapy to improve symptoms
(Class of recommendation I, level of evidence A), hospitalizations (Class of recommendation I, level of evidence A) and mortality (Class of recommendation I,
level of evidence B).
Bi-ventricular pacing improves symptoms, exercise
capacity, and reduces hospitalizations.289,290 A beneficial
effect on the composite of long-term mortality or allcause hospitalization has recently been demonstrated,291
as well as a significant effect on mortality.357
ESC Guidelines
Conventional indication
Pacemakers have been used in patients with heart failure
to treat bradycardia when conventional indications exist.
Pacing only of the right ventricle in patients with systolic
dysfunction will induce ventricular dyssynchrony and may
increase symptoms. In retrospective studies, lower
morbidity and prolonged survival by atrioventricular
(AV) synchronous pacing have been reported in patients
with chronic high degree AV block or sinus node disease
and concomitant heart failure. However, prospective
randomized controlled trials have not shown a reduction
in the development of heart failure with AV synchronous
pacing compared with only ventricular pacing.292,293
Resynchronization therapy
Approximately 20% of patients with severe heart failure
will have a broad QRS complex (120 ms) suggesting
intra- or interventricular conduction disturbances. A
large proportion of such patients will exhibit inter- or
intraventricular dyssynchrony in ventricular contraction.
Some patients with narrow QRS width will also have dyssynchrony. Many of these patients will have important
mitral regurgitation.
Bi-ventricular pacing stimulates both ventricles nearsimultaneously, improving the co-ordination of ventricular contraction, and reducing the severity of mitral
regurgitation. Successful implantation of the device
requires considerable skill and the procedure carries
some hazard to the patient. Procedure-related mortality
should be ,1%.
Two substantial, double-blind trials have shown that
bi-ventricular pacing improves symptoms and exercise
capacity for at least 6 months in patients with reduced
ejection fraction and a QRS width 120 ms and who
remain symptomatic (NYHA III–IV) despite optimal
medical therapy.289,290,294
In COMPANION, 1 520 patients in NYHA class III–IV, with
LVEF35% and with dyssynchrony as QRS duration
.120 ms were randomized to continued optimal
therapy [bi-ventricular pacing (CRT) or bi-ventricular
pacing with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator
(ICD) (CRT-D)]. The composite outcome of mortality
or hospitalization for any reason was reduced by 20% in
both pacing arms.291 Mortality (secondary objective)
was reduced by 24% relative (4% absolute) (P ¼ 0.06) by
CRT and 36% (7% absolute) (P ¼ 0.003) by CRT-D during
16 month of follow-up. There was no difference in mortality when CRT and CRT-D were compared. Some
patients derive no benefit from RCT even though they
fit current selection criteria. The CARE-HF trial randomized 813 patients with ventricular dyssynchrony and/or
QRS 150 ms demonstrating a significant 37% relative
(16% absolute) reduction in the composite of death or
hospitalizations for major CV events (P , 0.001) and
36% relative (10% absolute) reduction in all-cause
deaths (P , 0.001).357
Implantable cardioverter defibrillators
.
Implantation of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) in combination with bi-ventricular pacing
can be considered in patients who remain symptomatic
ESC Guidelines
.
.
with severe heart failure NYHA class III–IV with
LVEF 35% and QRS duration .120 ms to improve morbidity or mortality (Class of recommendation IIa, level
of evidence B).
ICD therapy is recommended to improve survival in
patients who have survived cardiac arrest or who
have sustained ventricular tachycardia, which is
either poorly tolerated or associated with reduced
systolic left ventricular function (Class of recommendation I, level of evidence A).
ICD implantation is reasonable in selected symptomatic
patients with LVEF ,30–35%, not within 40 days of a
myocardial infarction, on optimal background therapy
including ACE-inhibitor, ARB, beta-blocker, and an
aldosterone antagonist, where appropriate, to reduce
sudden death (Class of recommendation I, level of
evidence A).
In patients with documented sustained ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, the ICD is highly effective in treating recurrences of these arrhythmias, either
by anti-tachycardia pacing or cardioversion/defibrillation, thereby reducing morbidity and the need for
rehospitalization.
The ICD is effective in patients at high risk of sudden
death, i.e. with a history of myocardial infarction and
reduced systolic left ventricular function.295 In the
Multicenter Automatic Defibrillator Implantation Trial II
(MADIT II), 1232 patients with a myocardial infarction
.1 month earlier and a LVEF of ,30%, were randomized
to an ICD or not and followed for 4.5 years.296 The trial
was stopped prematurely by the Safety Committee
when pre-specified stopping boundaries had been
crossed. Mean follow-up was 20 month and there were
202 deaths in the trial. Allocation to ICD therapy was
associated with a 31% relative (6% absolute) risk
reduction of mortality (P ¼ 0.016). In DEFINITE, patients
with non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy were randomized to
ICD or control. No significant effect on all-cause mortality
was seen but sudden death was reduced significantly.297
Although these trials did include a large percentage of
patients with a history of heart failure, they did not
address specifically, the role of ICD in heart failure
patients in general. The selection citeria, the limited
follow-up in MADIT II (20 months), increased morbidity
with ICD and the low cost-effectiveness make it inappropriate to extend the findings into a general population
with CHF. The COMPANION trial included patients with
left ventricular systolic dysfunction, wide QRS complex
suggesting dyssynchrony and heart failure and showed
that implantation of an ICD in combination with
resynchronization in patients with severe heart failure
reduced mortality and morbidity (See under Resynchronization).291 However, CRT-D was not superior to CRT alone
in terms of reducing mortality and therefore the treatment associated with lower morbidity and cost may be
preferred for the majority of patients. CRT-D should be
reserved for patients considered at very high risk of
sudden death despite medical treatment and CRT alone.
The cost-effectiveness of this treatment needs to be
established.298 In the SCD-HeFT trial, 2521 patients
Page 31 of 45
with CHF and LVEF 35% were randomized to placebo,
amiodarone or single-lead ICD implantation. After a
median follow-up of 45.5 months, there was a
significant reduction in mortality by ICD therapy: HR
0.77 (97.5% CI: 0.62–0.96; P ¼ 0.007).269 There was
no difference between placebo and amiodarone on
survival.
Several recent meta-analyses estimated the effect of
ICD implantation on all-cause mortality in symptomatic
patients with reduced ejection fraction.262,299,300
Nanthakumar reported a significant reduction in mortality with ICD implantation (n ¼ 1623) HR 0.75 (95% CI:
0.63–0.91; P ¼ 0.003). No subgroups including age were
analysed. Desai et al. focused their meta-analysis on
studies including heart failure of non-ischaemic aetiology
including 1854 patients in trials on primary prevention.
They found that ICD treatment reduced all-cause mortality in this patient group (RR 0.69; 95% CI: 0.55–0.87;
P ¼ 0.002). Cleland et al. excluded two trials (MUSTT
and COMPANION) because of different trial designs in
these studies but their findings were consistent with
the others. As the effectiveness with ICD is timedependent,301 the anticipated duration of treatment is
important to establish cost-effectiveness. Accordingly,
the age of the patient and non-cardiac comorbidity
must also be taken into account. Treatment of patients
in NYHA class IV is not well established unless associated
with CRT in the context of dyssynchrony. There is no
evidence that patients with DCM obtain proportionally
less benefit but as the prognosis of this group is general
better, the absolute benefits may be less.262
Radiofrequency catheter ablation
Catheter ablation may be indicated in patients with heart
failure and reciprocating tachycardias. However, there
are insufficient data on the role of ablation on sustained
ventricular tachycardias in patients with heart failure or
selected patients with AF. It may be an adjunctive
therapy to ICDs in some patients.
Heart replacement therapies: heart transplantation,
ventricular assist devices, and artificial heart
Heart transplantation
.
Heart transplantation is an accepted mode of treatment for end stage heart failure. Although controlled
trials have never been conducted, it is considered to
significantly increase survival, exercise capacity,
return to work and quality of life compared with conventional treatment, provided proper selection criteria
are applied (Class of recommendation I, level of
evidence C).
Recent results in patients on triple immunosuppressive
therapy have shown a 5-year survival of 70–80%302
and return to full-time or part-time work, or seeking
employment after 1 year in about two-third of the
patients in the best series.303
Combined treatment with ACE-inhibitors and betablockers has markedly improved outcome and quality of
life for patients with severe heart failure to the extent
that a significant number of patients are now being withdrawn from the transplant waiting list.
Page 32 of 45
Patients who should be considered for heart transplantation are those with severe heart failure with no
alternative form of treatment. Predictors of poor survival
are taken into account. However, the introduction of new
treatments has probably modified the prognostic significance of the variables traditionally used to identify
heart transplant candidates i.e. VO2 max (see prognostication page 14). The patient must be willing and capable
to undergo intensive medical treatment, and be emotionally stable so as to withstand the many uncertainties
likely to occur both before and after transplantation.
The contraindications for heart transplantation are
shown in Table 21.
Besides shortage of donor hearts, the main problem
of heart transplantation is rejection of the allograft,
which is responsible for a considerable percentage of
deaths in the first post-operative year. The long-term
outcome is limited predominantly by the consequences
of immuno-suppression (infection, hypertension, renal
failure, malignancy, and by transplant coronary vascular
disease).304
Ventricular assist devices and artificial heart
.
Current indications for ventricular assist devices and
artificial heart include bridging to transplantation,
acute severe myocarditis, and in some permanent
haemodynamic support (Class of recommendation IIa,
level of evidence C).
At present, bi-ventricular support is only possible with
external blood pumps. This approach is of limited duration due to infectious complications and is therefore
used for short-term bridging (months) until cardiac
transplantation.
Left ventricular assist devices305 are being implanted
in increasing numbers of heart failure patients. As the
majority of these patients would fulfil criteria for heart
transplantation, the methodology is used as a bridge for
transplantation. However, due to the scarcity of donor
organs, there are many patients now with duration of
support of .1 year.
Indications for patients beyond those fulfilling the criteria for heart transplantation may be possible in the
future, and first small clinical series with implantation
of such univentricular devices as destination therapy
are being released. Complications are mainly of infectious or thromboembolic nature and would currently
limit broader application of this technology as longterm implants.305 Fully implantable devices including
those with rotational pumps are now being tested in
clinical trials.
Ultrafiltration
.
Ultrafiltration has been used for patients with pulmonary or peripheral oedema and/or severe congestive
heart failure refractory to diuretics.
Ultrafiltration can resolve pulmonary oedema and overhydration in case of refractoriness to pharmacological
therapies.306 In most patients with severe disease the
relief is temporary.307
ESC Guidelines
Table 21 Contraindications for heart transplantation
† Present alcohol and/or drug abuse
† Lack of co-operation
† Serious mental disease, which could
not be properly controlled
† Treated cancer with remission and ,5 years follow-up
† Systemic disease with multi-organ involvement
† Uncontrolled infection
† Severe renal failure (creatinine clearance ,50 mL/min)
or creatinine .250 mmol/L
† Fixed high pulmonary vascular resistance
† Recent thrombo embolic complication
† Unhealed peptic ulcer
† Evidence of significant liver impairment
† Other diseases with a poor prognosis
Choice and timing of pharmacological therapy
The choice of pharmacological therapy in the various
stages of heart failure that is caused by systolic dysfunction is displayed in Table 22. Before initiating therapy,
the correct diagnosis needs to be established and
considerations should be given to the Management
Outline presented in Table 6 (page 14).
European surveys on pharmacological therapy in
primary care308 and in hospital11 have shown that ACEinhibitors, beta-blockers, and in particular their combination, are not used as commonly as would be optimal.
Asymptomatic systolic left ventricular dysfunction
In general, the lower the ejection fraction, the higher
the risk of developing heart failure. Treatment with an
ACE-inhibitor is recommended in patients with reduced
systolic function if indicated by a substantial reduction
in LVEF (see section on imaging in the Diagnosis section)
(recommendation page 3).
Beta-blockers should be added to the therapy in
patients with asymptomatic left ventricular dysfunction
following an acute myocardial infarction (recommendation page 33).
Symptomatic systolic left ventricular dysfunction:
heart failure NYHA class II (Figure 3)
The diagnosis should be reviewed periodically to ensure
that additional or alternative problems such as ischaemia, arrhythmias, or valve disease are not making an
important contribution to symptoms.
Without signs of fluid retention
ACE-inhibitor (recommendation page 20). Titrate to the
target dose used in large controlled trials (Table 12).
Add a beta-blocker (recommendation page 23) and
titrate to target dosages used in large controlled trials
(Table 18 ).
With signs of fluid retention
Diuretics in combination with an ACE-inhibitor followed
by a beta-blocker.
First, the ACE-inhibitor and diuretic should be coadministered. When symptomatic improvement occurs
(i.e. fluid retention disappears), the optimal dose of
the ACE-inhibitor should be maintained followed by a
ESC Guidelines
Page 33 of 45
Table 22 CHF—choice of pharmacological therapy in left ventricular systolic dysfunction
ACE-inhibitor
Angiotensin receptor
blocker
Diuretic
Beta-blocker
Aldosterone
antagonists
Cardiac glycosides
Asymptomatic
LV dysfunction
Symptomatic
HF (NYHA II)
Indicated
If ACE intolerant
Not indicated
Post MI
Recent MI
Indicated
Indicated with or
without ACEinhibitor
Indicated if fluid
retention
Indicated
Recent MI
Worsening HF
(NYHA III–IV)
Indicated
Indicated
Indicated
Indicated,
combination
of diuretics
Indicated,
combination
of diuretics
Indicated (under
specialist care)
End-stage HF
(NYHA IV)
Indicated with or
without ACEinhibitor
Indicated with or
without ACEinhibitor
With atrial
fibrillation
(a) when atrial
fibrillation
(b) when improved
from more
severe HF in
sinus rhythm
Indicated
Indicated (under
specialist care)
Indicated
Indicated
beta-blocker. The dose of diuretic can be adjusted based
on patient stability. To avoid hyperkalaemia, any potassium-sparing diuretic should be omitted from the diuretic
regimen before introducing an ACE-inhibitor. However, an
aldosteronantagonist may be added if hypokalaemia persists. Add a beta-blocker and titrate to target dosages
used in large controlled trials (Table 18 ). Patients in
sinus rhythm receiving cardiac glycosides and who have
improved from severe to mild heart failure should continue cardiac glycoside therapy (recommendation page
26). In patients who remain symptomatic and in patients
who deteriorate, the addition of an ARB should be
considered (recommendation page 24).
Worsening heart failure (Figure 4)
Frequent causes of worsening heart failure are shown in
Table 23. Patients in NYHA class III that have improved
from NYHA class IV during the preceding 6 months or
are currently NYHA class IV should receive low-dose spironolactone (12.5–50 mg daily recommendation page 24).
Cardiac glycosides are often added. Loop diuretics can be
increased in dose, and combinations of diuretics (a loop
diuretic with a thiazide) are often helpful.
Consider heart transplantation or reconsider any
benefit that might be derived from coronary revascularization procedures, aneurysmectory, valve surgery, or
resynchronisation therapy.
End-stage heart failure (patients who persist in NYHA
IV despite optimal treatment and proper diagnosis
Patients should be (re)considered for heart transplantation. In addition to the pharmacological treatments
outlined in the earlier sections, temporary inotropic
support (intravenous sympathomimetic agents, dopaminergic agonists, and/or phosphodiesterase agents) can
be used in end-stage heart failure, but always should
be considered as an interim approach to further treatment that will benefit the patient.
For patients on the waiting list for transplantation bridging procedures, circulatory support with intra-aortic
balloon pumping or ventricular assist devices,
haemofiltration or dialysis may sometimes be necessary.
These should be used only in the context of a strategic
plan for the long-term management of the patient with
special focus on end-organ function in order to achieve
the maximum benefit from heart replacement.
Palliative treatment in terminal patients should always
be considered and may include the use of opiates for the
relief of symptoms.
Management of heart failure because of preserved left
ventricular ejection fraction
There is still little evidence from clinical trials or observational studies on how to treat PLVEF. Further, much
debate prevails about the prevalence of heart failure
that is due to pure diastolic dysfunction. Although
recent epidemiological studies suggest that in the
elderly the percentage of patients hospitalized with
heart failure-like symptoms and PLVEF may be as high
as 35–45%, there is uncertainty about the prevalence of
diastolic dysfunction in patients with heart failure symptoms and a normal systolic function in the community.
Heart failure with PLVEF and heart failure because of
diastolic dysfunction are not synonymous. The former
diagnosis implies the evidence of preserved LVEF and
not the demonstration of left ventricular diastolic
dysfunction.
The diagnosis of isolated diastolic heart failure also
requires evidence of abnormal diastolic function, which
may be difficult to assess in atrial fibrillation.
Causes of heart failure because of diastolic dysfunction
include myocardial ischaemia, hypertension, myocardial
hypertrophy, and myocardial/pericardial constriction.
These causes should be identified and treated
appropriately.
Precipitating factors should be identified and
corrected, in particular tachy-arrhythmias should be prevented and sinus rhythm restored whenever possible.
Rate control is important. Treatment approach is
similar to patients without heart failure.309
Page 34 of 45
ESC Guidelines
Figure 4 Pharmacological therapy of symptomatic CHF that is due to systolic left ventricular dysfunction. The algorithm should primarily be viewed as
an example of how decisions on therapy can be made depending on the progression of heart failure severity. A patient in NYHA Class II can be followed
with proposals of decision-making steps. Individual adjustments must be taken into consideration.
Table 23 Most frequent causes of worsening heart failure
Non-cardiac
† Non-compliance to the prescribed regimen (salt, liquid,
medication)
† Recently co-prescribed drugs (anti-arrhythmics other
than amiodarone, beta-blockers, NSAIDs, verapamil,
diltiazem)
† Infection
† Alcohol abuse
† Renal dysfunction (excessive use of diuretics)
† Pulmonary embolism
† Hypertension
† Thyroid dysfunction (e.g. amiodarone)
† Anaemia
Cardiac
† Atrial fibrillation
† Other supraventricular or ventricular arrhythmias
† Bradycardia
† Myocardial ischaemia (frequently symptomless), including
myocardial infarction
† Appearance or worsening of mitral or tricuspid
regurgitation
† Excessive preload reduction (e.g. due to diuretics þ ACEinhibitors/nitrates)
Pharmacological therapy of heart failure with PLVEF or
diastolic dysfunction
The recommendations provided below are largely speculative in that limited data exist in patients with PLVEF or
diastolic dysfunction (Class of recommendation IIa, level
of evidence C); the reason for the sparsity of data is that
patients are excluded from nearly all large controlled
trials in heart failure.
Presently, we do not have clear evidence that patients
with primary diastolic heart failure benefit from any
specific drug regimen. Some evidence is available indicating that patients with heart failure and preserved
LVEF benefit from digoxin in the DIG study238 in a composite of death or hospitalizations for heart failure. Inhibition of the renin angiotensin system with candesartan
in CHARM Preserved310 reduced cardiovascular mortality
or hospitalizations for heart failure slightly and heart
failure hospitalizations significantly; mortality, on the
other hand, was not influenced. In these studies,
however, there was no objective measure of diastolic
function and, by consequence, do not permit any conclusion about treatment of diastolic function in general.
Because heart failure is most often due to coronary
artery disease and/or hypertension, it is most logical to
search for these conditions by appropriate tests and
then to treat the patients according to general principles
for managing these disorders.
(1) ACE-inhibitors may improve relaxation and cardiac
distensibility directly and may have long-term effects
through their anti-hypertensive effects and regression
of hypertrophy and fibrosis.
(2) Diuretics may be necessary when episodes with fluid
overload are present, but should be used cautiously
so as not to lower preload excessively and thereby
reduce stroke volume and cardiac output.
(3) Beta-blockade could be instituted to lower heart rate
and increase the diastolic period.
(4) Verapamil-type calcium antagonists may be used for
the same reason.311 Some studies with verapamil
have shown a functional improvement in patients
with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.312
ESC Guidelines
(5) A high dose of an ARB may reduce hospitalizations.310
In general, the treatment of PLVEF/diastolic dysfunction
remains difficult and often unsatisfactory. One of the
main problems is that isolated diastolic dysfunction may
be rare, the condition often occurring in conjunction
with some degree of systolic dysfunction. As conditions
under which PLVEF/diastolic dysfunction occur vary
between patients and no controlled data from studies
exist, straightforward therapeutic algorithms are not
easy to provide for the individual.
Heart failure treatment in the elderly
Heart failure occurs predominantly among elderly
patients with a median age of about 75 years in community studies. Ageing is frequently associated with comorbidity. Frequent concomitant diseases are hypertension, renal failure, obstructive lung disease, diabetes,
stroke, arthritis, and anaemia. Such patients also
receive multiple drugs, which includes the risk of
unwanted interactions and may reduce compliance. In
general, these patients have been excluded from randomized trials. In addition, elderly patients with heart
failure have reduced cognitive function compared with
healthy individuals.313 Accordingly, the approach to the
elderly patient with heart failure must include the understanding of several associated conditions in the therapeutic decision.
The therapeutic approach to systolic dysfunction
in the elderly should be principally identical to
that in younger heart failure patients on the choice
of drug treatment. Altered pharmacokinetic and
pharmacodynamic properties of cardiovascular drugs
in the elderly necessitate that therapy should be
applied more cautiously. Sometimes reduced dosages
are necessary.
Renal dysfunction is of special importance because
some cardiovascular drugs that are used frequently,
such as most ACE-inhibitors and digoxin, are excreted
in active form in the urine (for calculating the creatinine
clearance, see Table 3, Diagnosis section).
Other complicating factors include diastolic dysfunction, blunting of baroreceptor function, and orthostatic
dysregulation of blood pressure.
A sedentary lifestyle with deconditioning and reduced
skeletal mass, as well as changes in nutritional habits
leading to reduced calorie/protein intake are further
complicating factors in the management of elderly
heart failure patients.
ACE-inhibitors and ARBs
ACE-inhibitors and ARBs are effective and well tolerated
in elderly patients in general. Because of a greater likelihood for hypotension and a delayed excretion rate of
most ACE-inhibitors, low-dose titration is advisable.
Initiation of ACE-inhibitor/ARBs therapy should be supervised, if possible, with monitoring of supine and standing
blood pressure, renal function, and serum potassium
Page 35 of 45
levels. With such precautions, treatment can be introduced in the outpatient setting.
Diuretic therapy
In the elderly, thiazides are often ineffective because of
reduced glomerular filtration rate. Reduced absorption
rate and bio-availability of drugs or an increased
excretion rate of thiazides or loop diuretics may lead to
delayed onset, prolonged duration or sometimes
reduced drug action. On the other hand, diuretics often
cause orthostatic hypotension and/or further reduction
in renal function. In elderly patients, hyperkalaemia is
more frequently seen with a combination of aldosterone
antagonsist and ACE-inhibitors or NSAIDs and coxibs.
Beta-blockers
Beta-blocking agents are surprisingly well tolerated in
the elderly if patients with such contraindications as
sinoatrial disease, AV-block and obstructive lung disease
are excluded. Currently used beta-blockers in heart
failure are eliminated by hepatic metabolism and do
not require dosage reduction in patients with decreased
renal function. Initiation of beta-blockade, however,
should be carried out with low dosages and prolonged
periods of titration. Beta-blockade should not be withheld because of increasing age alone.
Cardiac glycosides
Elderly patients may be more susceptible to adverse
effects of digoxin. This glycoside is mainly eliminated in
active form by the kidney and therefore half-lives
increase up to two- to three-fold in patients aged over
70 years. Initially, low dosages are recommended in
patients with elevated serum creatinine.
Vasodilator agents
Venodilating drugs, such as nitrates and the arterial
dilator hydralazine and the combination of these drugs,
should be administered carefully because of the risk of
hypotension.
Little data exist concerning the efficacy and safety of
these agents in the treatment of elderly heart failure
patients.
Arrhythmias
.
In the approach to arrhythmia, it is essential to
recognize and correct precipitating factors, improve
cardiac function and reduce neuroendocrine activation
with beta-blockade, ACE-inhibition, and possibly,
aldosterone receptor antagonists (Class of recommendation I, level of evidence C, class I).
Both supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias occur
frequently in heart failure. Sudden death accounts for
40–50% of all deaths, decreasing in relative proportion in advancing stages of heart failure.314 Various
mechanisms, i.e. structural cardiac changes, myocardial
ischaemia and neurohormonal activation, may play a
role. Further precipitating factors for arrhythmias
include electrolyte disturbances (hypokalaemia, hypomagnesaemia, and hyperkalaemia), drug interaction
with cardiac pump function or electrical stability, such
as some calcium antagonists and some anti-arrhythmic
Page 36 of 45
agents, digitalis toxicity, and inter-current diseases (e.g.
hyperthyroidism and respiratory diseases).
ESC Guidelines
(Class of recommendation IIa, level of evidence C). If
digoxin or warfarin is used in combination with amiodarone, their dosages may need to be adapted.
Ventricular arrhythmias
.
.
.
In patients with ventricular arrhythmias, the use of
anti-arrhythmic agents is only justified in patients
with severe, symptomatic, ventricular tachycardias
and where amiodarone should be the preferred agent
(Class of recommendation IIa, level of evidence
B).266,268
The routine use of anti-arrhythmic agents for asymptomatic premature ventricular complexes or nonsustained ventricular tachycardias is not justified (see
section Anti-arrhythmics, page 28).
ICD implantation is indicated in patients with heart
failure and life threatening ventricular arrhythmias
(i.e. ventricular fibrillation or sustained ventricular
tachycardia) and in selected patients at high risk of
sudden death (Class of recommendation I, level of evidence A).295,296,315,316
Symptomatic systolic left ventricular dysfunction
and concomitant angina or hypertension
Specific recommendations in addition to general treatment for heart failure because of systolic left ventricular
dysfunction.
If angina is present
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
If hypertension is present
(i) optimize the dose of ACE-inhibitors, beta-blocking
agents, and diuretics;
(ii) add spironolactone or ARBs if not present already;
(iii) try second generation dihydropyridine derivatives
if not successful.
Atrial fibrillation
.
.
.
.
.
For persistent (non-self-terminating) atrial fibrillation,
electrical cardioversion could be considered, although
its success rate may depend on the duration of atrial
fibrillation and left atrial size (Class of recommendation IIa, level of evidence B).
In patients with atrial fibrillation and heart failure and/
or depressed left ventricular function, the use of antiarrhythmic therapy to maintain sinus rhythm should be
restricted to amiodarone (Class of recommendation I,
level of evidence C) and, if available, to dofetilide
(Class of recommendation IIa, level of evidence B).270
In asymptomatic patients beta-blockade, digitalis
glycosides or the combination may be considered
for control of ventricular rate (Class of recommendation
I, level of evidence B). In symptomatic patients with systolic dysfunction digitalis glycosides are the first choice
(Class of recommendation IIa, level of evidence C). In
PLVEF verapamil can be considered (Class of recommendation IIa, level of evidence C).
Anti-coagulation in persistent atrial fibrillation with
warfarin should always be considered unless contraindicated (Class of recommendation I, level of
evidence C).
Management of acute atrial fibrillation is not dependent
on previous heart failure or not. Treatment strategy is
dependent on symptoms and haemodynamic stability.309
There is no evidence in patients with persistent atrial
fibrillation and heart failure that restoring and maintaining sinus rhythm is superior to control of heart rate,
particularly in severe heart failure.317,318 The development of atrial fibrillation in CHF is associated with
worse prognosis.319,320
Amiodarone may convert atrial fibrillation to sinus
rhythm and improve the success rate of electrical
cardioversion.
In permanent atrial fibrillation, (cardioversion not
attempted or failed) rate control is most important
optimize existing therapy, e.g. beta-blockade;
add long-acting nitrates;
add amlodipine or felodipine, if not successful;
consider coronary revascularization
Care and follow-up (Table 24 )
.
An organized system of specialist heart failure care
improves symptoms and reduces hospitalizations
(Class of recommendation I, level of evidence A) and
mortality (Class of recommendation IIa, level of
evidence B) of patients with heart failure.
Randomized controlled trials have generally demonstrated that a structured system of care improves outcomes, including quality of life, the frequency and
duration of follow-up and survival.232,321–325 However,
some studies have failed to show benefit.326–329 Various
models have been tested (heart failure clinics, nurse-led
home visits and/or telephone follow-up, multi-disciplinary care, extended home care services, and telemonitoring). It is not clear which model is superior. Most
successful models have been based on the development
of heart failure nurse specialists, which appears cost-
Table 24 Recommended components of care and following
programmes (Class of recommendation I, level of evidence C)
† Use a multi-disciplinary team approach
† Vigilant follow-up, first follow-up within 10 days of
discharge
† Discharge planning
† Increased access to health care
† Optimizing medical therapy with guidelines
† Early attention to signs and symptoms
(e.g. telemonitoring)
† Flexible diuretic regimen
† Intense education and counseling
† Inpatient and outpatient (home-based)
† Attention to behavioural strategies
† Address barriers to compliance
ESC Guidelines
effective.323 It is likely that the optimal model will
depend on local circumstances and resources and
whether the model is designed for specific sub-groups
of patients (e.g. severity of heart failure, age, comorbidity, and left ventricular systolic dysfunction) or
the whole heart failure population.
Unplanned re-admission of patients with heart failure
is related to medical complications (e.g. uncontrolled
hypertension, infections, anaemia, and renal dysfunction), environmental factors (e.g. failing social
support), behavioural factors (e.g. non-compliance with
drugs, diet, or other lifestyle modifications) or to
factors related to discharge planning (e.g. premature discharge, inadequate treatment, or patient education and
poor follow-up).330
Although basic agreement can be achieved on the
content of care needed by patients with heart failure
(e.g. all patients should be properly counselled,
see page 17), the organization should be closely adapted
to the needs of the patient group and the resources of
the organization. Depending on the local health care
system, it seems important to determine which health
care provider is the most appropriate to participate in
various components. Nurses and other health care providers can play an important role in these innovative forms
of care.
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